Rubio says US expecting Iran to respond Friday on peace proposal

The U.S. expects to get a response Friday from Iran on a proposal to end the war, Secretary of State Mark Rubio said. 

Rubio made the remark while in Rome where he is visiting Pope Leo XIV, CNBC reported. 

“We should know something today," he said. "We’re expecting a response from them."

Rubio said the U.S. is hoping the response from Iran will be enough to allow negotiations to proceed. United States and Israel launched air attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, which effectively started the war.

Iranian officials said Thursday the country is working with the U.S. to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and reach a 30-day ceasefire as both sides work toward more lasting peace in the region.

The officials told the New York Times that both sides are looking at a one-page proposal that has three key points: the lifting of the U.S. blockade on Iranian ships and ports, the opening of the strait to commercial traffic, and an end to the fighting.

The strait is a vital shipping channel for global oil and gas supply.

Iran said that the main disagreement is surrounding its nuclear program and stockpile of enriched uranium. The U.S. reportedly wants Iran to agree in principle to hand over its entire stockpile and suspend its enrichment program for 20 years, while Iran has countered by diluting some of the uranium, sending the rest to a third country and suspending its program for 10 to 15 years.