---
title: "Marco Rubio says peace deal with Iran hard as Iran keeps Hormuz closed"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/marco-rubio-says-peace-deal-with-iran-hard-as-iran-keeps-hormuz-closed"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/marco-rubio-says-peace-deal-with-iran-hard-as-iran-keeps-hormuz-closed"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/marco-rubio-says-peace-deal-with-iran-hard-as-iran-keeps-hormuz-closed.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/marco-rubio-says-peace-deal-with-iran-hard-as-iran-keeps-hormuz-closed"
category: "Politics"
area: "Middle East"
published: "2026-10-21T01:45:45.846Z"
source_reported: "2026-10-21T00:07:42.321Z"
updated: "2026-10-21T02:15:10.737Z"
trust_score: 50
critic_score: 77
hype_score: 30
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-10-21T02:30:19.391170+00:00"
---

# Marco Rubio says peace deal with Iran hard as Iran keeps Hormuz closed

*Rubio warned US economic pressure will continue until Tehran stops targeting commercial shipping, and Iran’s foreign minister said the Strait of Hormuz will stay shut until Washington meets Tehran’s conditions, with indirect talks through Pakistan and Qatar.*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 50 of 100, higher is better. Two officials quoted by name, no anonymous sources, yielding a trust score of 50.
- Craft 77 of 100, higher is better. Quotes from officials, clear facts, and coherent writing give a critic score of 77.
- Hype 30 of 100, lower is better. Headline mentions ship attacks but article only cites officials’ statements, mild emphasis yields hype 30.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a peace deal with Iran is extremely difficult
- Rubio warned economic pressure will continue until Iran stops targeting commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Strait will stay closed until Washington meets Tehran’s conditions
- Indirect talks are proceeding through Pakistan and Qatar

On 21 October 2026 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told US media that achieving a peace agreement with Iran is extremely difficult and that the United States will keep applying economic pressure until Tehran ceases attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until Washington accepts Tehran’s conditions, and he added that indirect negotiations are continuing through Pakistan and Qatar.

> reaching a peace deal with Iran is extremely difficult
>
> — Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State

## What the coverage left out

No centre‑rated or right‑rated outlets published the story, leaving their audiences without the statements from Rubio or Araghchi and without mention of the indirect talks through Pakistan and Qatar.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 29 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 17% (5)
- Centre: 28% (8)
- Right: 55% (16)

19 of 48 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-21T02:30:19.391170+00:00.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 5 times; 2 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-21T03:00:09.491Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

- Al Jazeera, a left‑rated outlet, led on both officials’ statements. The article reproduced Rubio’s comment that a peace deal is “extremely difficult” and that economic pressure will continue, and it quoted Araghchi saying the strait “will remain closed” until US demands are met, noting the role of Pakistan and Qatar in indirect talks.

### Centre

- All four centre‑rated outlets reported that Iran is extending negotiations with the United States in order to affect the November midterm election. They cited senior officials who said Tehran wants to deny President Donald Trump a political win, and they noted that the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed.
- Jerusalem Post’s article quoted three senior Iranian officials and an anonymous insider, who said Iran was getting ready for fresh Israeli and American strikes rather than a peace deal. It also described Tehran’s seven‑day plan that ties reopening the strait to the lifting of the US maritime blockade and other concessions. Economic Times added that Iran’s foreign minister highlighted unusually close cooperation with Russia in the mediation effort.
- The digests from Political Wire and The Japan Times only reproduced the general claim that fear of renewed military action and distrust of Washington keep Tehran from a quick settlement. They omitted the specific seven‑day proposal, the insider’s warning about attacks, and the comment on Iran‑Russia collaboration that appear in the full reports.

### Right

- The right‑rated digests all reported that Iran is deliberately extending negotiations with the United States to affect the November midterm elections and to weaken President Donald Trump, describing the strategy as a way to increase pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and global oil markets.
- Sources quoted include senior Iranian officials, a Tehran analyst named Saeed Leylaz, and unnamed insiders who said Iran aims to inflict “maximum pain” on Trump by escalating attacks in the Hormuz corridor, while senior officials in Dubai were also cited as confirming the political motive.
- None of the right‑rated digests mention Senator Marco Rubio’s comment that a peace deal is hard to achieve while Iran keeps the Strait closed, nor do they provide any cost estimates or details of the diplomatic process beyond the political angle.

**Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- veryLow: 1
- low: 1
- mixed: 8
- high: 13
- unknown: 21
- veryHigh: 4

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [SINDOnews.com](https://international.sindonews.com/read/1762893/43/iran-bertekad-tidak-berikan-kemenangan-politik-pada-trump-1792541400) — Iran Vows Not to Hand Trump a Political Victory
- [Al Jazeera](https://aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/10/21/iran-war-live-us-warns-peace-deal-with-tehran-is-extremely-difficult) — US says peace deal with Iran extremely difficult amid Hormuz ship attacks
- [The Western Journal](https://westernjournal.com/report-iran-scheming-inflict-maximum-pain-trump-ahead-midterms) — Report: Iran Scheming to 'Inflict Maximum Pain' on Trump Ahead of Midterms
- [The Economic Times](https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/world-news/planned-deadlock-iran-is-dragging-talks-to-influence-us-midterms/articleshow/135075892.cms) — Planned deadlock: 'Iran is dragging talks to influence US midterms'
- [Times of India](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/planned-deadlock-iran-is-dragging-talks-to-influence-us-midterms/articleshow/135075892.cms) — Planned deadlock: 'Iran is dragging talks to influence US midterms'
- [ANSA](https://ansa.it/sito/notizie/topnews/2026/10/20/media-iran-ha-trascinato-negoziati-con-gli-usa-per-indebolire-trump_b5a6c441-0d65-4d12-9e44-33be19e1234a.html) — Media, 'Iran Has Dragged Negotiations with the US to Weaken Trump at Midterms'
- [aljazeera.net](https://aljazeera.net/news/2026/10/20/%d9%83%d9%8a%d9%81-%d8%aa%d8%ad%d8%a7%d9%88%d9%84-%d8%a5%d9%8a%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%aa%d8%a3%d8%ab%d9%8a%d8%b1-%d8%b9%d9%84%d9%89-%d8%a7%d9%86%d8%aa%d8%ae%d8%a7%d8%a8%d8%a7%d8%aa) — Reuters Officials: Iran Betting on Time to Weaken Tromb Electorally
- [ghanamma.com](https://ghanamma.com/2026/10/20/iran-prolongs-talks-to-undermine-trump-before-midterms) — Iran prolongs talks to undermine Trump before midterms
- [gCaptain](https://gcaptain.com/iran-prolongs-talks-in-stalemate-to-influence-us-midterms) — Iran Prolongs Talks in Stalemate to Influence US Midterms
- [news-pravda.com](https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/10/20/2681174.html) — ️️ Iran is delaying talks with the US to prevent Trump from winning the midterm elections
- [Power Line](https://powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/10/iran-waits-out-the-midterms.php) — Iran Waits Out the Midterms
- [Globo](https://valor.globo.com/mundo/noticia/2026/10/20/ir-prolonga-negociaes-com-eua-para-enfraquecer-trump-antes-de-eleio-legislativa.ghtml) — Iran Prolongs Negotiations with the U.S. to Weaken Trump Before the Legislative Election
- [La Verità](https://laverita.info/geopolitica/iran-strategia-teheran-indebolire-trump-elezioni-usa) — Iran, Tehran's Strategy: Keeping Trump Bogged Down in the War Until the Vote
- [PJ Media](https://pjmedia.com/rick-moran/2026/10/20/the-democrats-secret-weapon-for-midterms-iran-n4958497) — The Democrats' Hope for a 'Secret Weapon' for the Midterms: Iran
- [조선일보](https://chosun.com/international/international_general/2026/10/20/MNQWEN3CGUZDGNZUGEYDSMRVGQ) — “Will Not Give Trump a Political Victory”… Iran Delays Peace Talks Targeting U.S. Midterm Elections
- [Libre](https://libre.gr/2026/10/20/reuters-to-iran-parateinei-tis-diapragmatef) — Iran Negotiations with US: Aim to Weaken Trump
- [parapolitika.gr](https://parapolitika.gr/diethni/article/1809156/iran-to-shedio-tis-teheranis-gia-na-sterisei-apo-ton-trab-mia-politiki-niki-prin-apo-tis-kalpes) — Iran: Tehran's Plan to Deprive Trump of a Political Victory Before the Polls
- [FOCUS online](https://focus.de/politik/iran-ist-besessen-von-trump-niederlage-bei-midterms_a83de1c8-40c6-42ab-8a2b-a13186b38566.html) — Iran Is "Obsessed" by Trump Defeat at Midterms
- [newsweek.ro](https://newsweek.ro/international/iranul-ar-fi-tergiversat-negocierile-cu-sua-pentru-a-l-slabi-politic-pe-trump-inaintea-alegerilor) — Iranul ar fi tergiversat negocierile cu SUA pentru a-l slăbi politic pe Trump înaintea alegerilor • Newsweek România
- [Mediafax](https://mediafax.ro/externe/iranul-ar-fi-prelungit-intentionat-negocierile-cu-sua-pentru-a-l-slabi-politic-pe-trump-inaintea-alegerilor-de-la-jumatatea-mandatului-23828806) — Iran Would Have Extended Negotiations with the US to Weaken Trump Politically Before the Mid-Term Elections
- [Protothema](https://protothema.gr/world/article/1897835/reuters-to-iran-trenarei-skopima-tis-diapragmateuseis-me-tis-ipa-gia-na-plixei-ton-trab-stis-endiameses) — Reuters: Iran Is Deliberately Manipulating Negotiations with the US to Hurt Trump in the Midterms
- [n-tv](https://n-tv.de/politik/Sie-sind-besessen-Iran-will-Trump-bei-den-Midterms-stuerzen-id31437225.html) — Insiders Report on Strategy: "They Are Obsessed": Iran Wants to Overthrow Trump at the Midterms
- [Stirile Antena 1 Observator](https://observatornews.ro/politic/iranul-a-prelungit-deliberat-negocierile-pentru-a-influenta-alegerile-din-sua-669747.html) — Iran Has Deliberately Extended Negotiations to Influence U.S. Elections
- [KAYHAN LIFE](https://kayhanlife.com/news/iran/iran-prolongs-talks-in-stalemate-to-influence-us-midterms-officials-say) — Iran Prolongs Talks in Stalemate to Influence US Midterms, Officials Say
- [Im Arabic](https://imarabic.com/%D8%B7%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%86-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D9%82%D8%AA-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A4%D9%88%D9%84%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A5%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%88) — Tehran's Betting on time... Iranian Officials Talking About the Electoral Attrition of Trump.
- [Agenparl](https://agenparl.eu/2026/10/20/iran-negoziati-rallentati-per-indebolire-trump) — Iran, Negotiations Slowed Down to Weaken Trump
- [Gândul](https://gandul.ro/international/iran-prelungeste-discutii-pace-sua-trump-21039970) — Iran Has Postponed Peace Negotiations with the US so as Not to Give Trump a Political Victory Before the Congressional Elections
- [Nieuws.nl](https://nieuws.nl/buitenland/ingewijden-iran-vertraagt-onderhandelingen-met-vs-bewust) — Insiders: Iran Is Deliberately Delaying Negotiations with the US
- [dagelijksestandaard.nl](https://dagelijksestandaard.nl/nieuws/ingewijden-iran-vertraagt-onderhandelingen-met-vs-bewust) — Insiders: Iran Is Deliberately Delaying Negotiations with the US
- [welingelichtekringen.nl](https://welingelichtekringen.nl/samenleving/ingewijden-iran-vertraagt-onderhandelingen-met-vs-bewust) — Insiders: Iran Is Deliberately Delaying Negotiations with the US
- [Naftemporiki](https://naftemporiki.gr/kosmos/2177501/iranoi-axiomatoychoi-i-techerani-parateinei-skopima-tis-synomilies-me-tis-ipa-gia-na-plixei-ton-tramp-enopsei-endiameson-eklogon) — Iranian Officials: Tehran Is Deliberately Prolonging Talks with the US to Hurt Trump Ahead of Midterm Elections
- [Cyprus Mail](https://cyprus-mail.com/2026/10/20/iran-prolongs-talks-in-stalemate-to-influence-us-midterms) — Iran prolongs talks in stalemate to influence US midterms
- [Jerusalem Post](https://jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-912292) — Iran prolongs talks in stalemate to punish Trump ahead of US midterms, officials say
- [Reuters](https://reuters.com/world/us/iran-prolongs-talks-stalemate-influence-us-midterms-officials-say-2026-10-20) — Iran prolongs talks in stalemate to influence US midterms, ...
- [KSML.fi – Keskisuomalainen](https://ksml.fi/uutissuomalainen/9886782) — Iranian Sources Tell Reuters: We Will Prolong Negotiations with the United States to Influence the Midterm Elections
- [The Japan Times](https://japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/10/20/world/politics/iran-prolong-us-talks-midterm-influence) — Iran prolongs talks in stalemate to influence U.S. midterms, officials say
- [The Straits Times](https://straitstimes.com/asia/iran-prolongs-talks-in-stalemate-to-influence-us-midterms-officials-say) — Iran prolongs talks in stalemate to influence US midterms, officials say
- [Al-Monitor](https://al-monitor.com/originals/2026/10/iran-prolongs-talks-stalemate-influence-us-midterms-officials-say) — Iran prolongs talks in stalemate to influence US midterms, officials say
- [money.pl](https://money.pl/gospodarka/iran-stawia-sprawe-jasno-ceny-ropy-znow-ida-w-gore-7341980277139552a.html) — Iran Offers an Opening. And the Price of Oil Has Shot up Again.
- [연합뉴스-Yonhap News Agency](https://yna.co.kr/view/AKR20261020034600009) — Iran to Punish Trump for 'Election Defeat' Just Like Jimmy Carter
- [IBTimes Singapore](https://ibtimes.sg/irans-strait-hormuz-attacks-put-oil-prices-trumps-midterm-hopes-risk-95310) — Iran's Strait of Hormuz Attacks Put Oil Prices and Trump's Midterm Hopes at Risk
- [turkiyegazetesi.com.tr](https://turkiyegazetesi.com.tr/dunya/trumpi-devirme-hesabinda-1980-detayi-abd-basini-iranin-yeni-planini-desifre-etti-1823803) — A 1980 Detail in the Plot to Overthrow Trump! US Media Deciphers Iran's New Plan.
- [nationalsecurityjournal.org](https://nationalsecurityjournal.org/donald-trump-opened-pandoras-box-the-iran-war-wont-end-as-tehran-keeps-attacking-ships-in-the-strait-of-hormuz) — Donald Trump Opened Pandora’s Box: The Iran War Won’t End As Tehran Keeps Attacking Ships in the Strait of Hormuz
- [Political Wire](https://politicalwire.com/2026/10/19/tehran-seeks-to-punish-trump-in-midterms) — Tehran Seeks to Punish Trump in Midterms
- [Interfax.ru](https://interfax.ru/world/1123511) — WP Reported on Tehran ' S Desire to Put Pressure on Trump Before the 3 November Elections
- [Archy Worldys](https://archyworldys.com/iran-targets-hormuz-shipping-to-influence-midterms-officials-say) — Iran Targets Hormuz Shipping to Influence Midterms, Officials Say - Archyworldys
- [Reporter.gr](https://reporter.gr/diethnh/diethneis-eidhseis/688765-to-iran-paizei-to-xarti-tou-petrelaiou-gia-na-pliksei-ton-tramp-stis-endiameses-ekloges) — Iran Plays the Oil Card to Hurt Trump in the Midterm Elections
- [The Washington Post](https://washingtonpost.com/world/2026/10/18/tehran-seeks-punish-trump-midterms-with-oil-price-pain-iranian-officials-say) — Tehran seeks to punish Trump in midterms with oil price pain, Iranian officials say

## Questions

**What did Marco Rubio say about a peace deal with Iran?**

Rubio told US media that reaching a peace deal with Iran is extremely difficult and that the United States will maintain economic pressure until Tehran stops targeting commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, signalling a hard‑line stance.

**What condition did Iran set for reopening the Strait of Hormuz?**

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Strait of Hormuz will stay closed until Washington accepts Tehran’s conditions, linking the strait’s status directly to US compliance with Iranian demands.

**Through which countries are indirect talks between the US and Iran proceeding?**

Araghchi added that indirect negotiations are being conducted via Pakistan and Qatar, indicating that both nations are serving as intermediaries in the diplomatic effort despite the ongoing closure of the strait.

---

MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/marco-rubio-says-peace-deal-with-iran-hard-as-iran-keeps-hormuz-closed. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Marco Rubio says peace deal with Iran hard as Iran keeps Hormuz closed", https://mediabias.news/politics/marco-rubio-says-peace-deal-with-iran-hard-as-iran-keeps-hormuz-closed