by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
STOCKHOLM/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signaled Friday that the NATO military alliance could become involved in the Iran crisis if negotiations fail to end the war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.
Speaking after talks with NATO foreign ministers in Stockholm, Rubio said there had been limited progress in efforts to reach a deal with Tehran, nearly three months into aconflict that has shaken the Middle East and triggered a global energy crisis.
“There’s been some progress. I wouldn’t exaggerate it. I wouldn’t diminish it,” Rubio told reporters. “There’s more work to be done. We’re not there yet. I hope we get there.”
However, Rubio warned that if diplomacy collapses, President Donald Trump “has other options,” while adding that contingency planning may eventually involve NATO.
The talks came as Iran’s foreign minister reportedly met with Pakistan’s interior minister in Tehran, while Qatar dispatched negotiators to Iran in coordination with Washington to narrow remaining differences.
STRAIT OF HORMUZ CRISIS
Major sticking points reportedly include Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium and Tehran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which about 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass.
Iran’s restrictions and proposed tolling system for ships using the strait have sharply reduced commercial traffic and fueled soaring global energy prices.
Rubio called Iran’s plans for the waterway “unacceptable.”
“We’re dealing with a very difficult group of people,” he said.
World markets have remained volatile amid fears the crisis could deepen further if negotiations collapse.
Oil prices rose again on Friday while the U.S. dollar hovered near a six-week high as investors questioned whether a breakthrough remained possible.
ISRAEL WAR CONTINUES
The crisis follows months of escalating conflict involving Israel and Iran-backed regional militias, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The United States and Israel say their goals include curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions, weakening its missile and drone capabilities, and reducing Tehran’s support for armed proxy groups across the Middle East.
Israeli officials have repeatedly warned that Iran’s stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium poses a direct threat to Israel’s security, though Tehran insists its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes.
Despite heavy military pressure and international sanctions, Iran has retained much of its enriched uranium stockpile and continues to project influence through allied militias in the region.
GLOBAL ECONOMIC FEARS
The conflict has increasingly rattled global markets and economies, with sharply higher oil prices stoking fears of renewed inflation and economic instability worldwide.
Analysts said uncertainty surrounding the negotiations has added to investor anxiety ahead of the U.S. midterm elections, as Americans increasingly grow frustrated by rising fuel prices.
Yet shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains far below normal levels, underscoring fears that the conflict could still widen despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
More Worthy News
North Korea fired about 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters Thursday, South Korea’s military said, a sharp show of force just one day after Pyongyang dismissed President Donald Trump’s decision to scale back U.S.–South Korea military drills.
The Pentagon has ordered 30 American colleges and universities to audit foreign research partnerships and cut off any arrangements deemed a threat to U.S. national security, with officials warning that schools could lose federal research funding if they fail to comply.
The U.S. military’s heavy use of Tomahawk cruise missiles during the conflict with Iran is sharpening concerns in Washington over America’s ability to sustain long-range precision warfare while also preparing for future threats.
Israel has warned Syria not to allow Turkey to establish a deeper military foothold inside the country, escalating a growing diplomatic confrontation between Jerusalem and Ankara after an Israeli strike on the Abu al-Duhur military air base in northern Syria.
The USS George Washington aircraft carrier is now operating in the Middle East, U.S. Central Command said Thursday, marking a major carrier rotation as the USS Abraham Lincoln prepares to end one of the Navy’s most punishing recent deployments.
The death toll from the collapse of an artisanal gold mine in western Central African Republic has risen to more than 100, with others still missing or trapped beneath rubble, underscoring broader concerns about safety risks faced by miners across the region, rescue workers and local officials said.
Ukrainian authorities said Thursday at least 16 people were killed and about 40 injured in massive overnight Russian drone and missile strikes on Kyiv and the wider region, while neighboring countries were placed on high alert amid reports of drones entering or approaching their territory.