Middle East
Rubio says peace with Iran “extremely difficult” as Revolutionary Guards claim two tankers hit by mines in Hormuz
Washington vows economic pressure until Tehran stops attacks on merchant ships; Araghchi says the strait will stay closed until the U.S. accepts Iranian terms.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 21, 2026, 07:30 · Updated 12:22 · 2 min read
In brief
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the prospect of a peace deal with Iran is “extremely difficult.”
- The Revolutionary Guards claim two tankers caught fire after striking mines in the Strait of Hormuz and that they shot down a U.S. MQ-9 drone.
- Indirect talks continue through Pakistan and Qatar, with no breakthrough announced.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has described the chances of a peace deal with Iran as “extremely difficult.” In an interview with CNBC, he said Washington will keep up economic pressure on Tehran until it stops attacking merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Rubio also claimed that oil tanker traffic through the strait has recovered to more than 80 percent of its prewar level. It is a claim Iran has consistently disputed and one that cannot be independently verified.
The Revolutionary Guards' claims
On Tuesday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said through its Sepah News outlet that two oil tankers caught fire after striking naval mines, which it said had been laid by Iranian forces. According to the IRGC, the ships were trying to use an “illegal” route in the south of the strait. The Guards warned that vessels violating their restrictions would face the “destruction” of property. They also claimed that Iranian air defenses shot down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone on Monday evening. None of these claims has been confirmed by independent sources.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told his weekly press conference that Iran would respond to any attack with “equal or greater” force. He called ideas of a limited Iranian response a “fantasy.” Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the strait would remain closed until Washington accepts Tehran's terms.
Diplomacy through intermediaries
Araghchi confirmed that indirect contacts with the U.S. are continuing through Pakistan and Qatar. According to Al Jazeera, President Masoud Pezeshkian received Pakistan's army chief in Tehran on Tuesday. On the American side, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington is ready for further military action if President Donald Trump orders it. According to reports on Wednesday, tensions in the region have pushed the price of Brent crude to around $110 a barrel.
