[Video below.] Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed cautious confidence Tuesday that negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program could move forward, even as renewed regional tensions and a fragile ceasefire have cast doubt on the prospects for broader diplomatic progress.

Appearing before lawmakers in his first public testimony since the outbreak of the Iran conflict, Rubio said Tehran has shown a new willingness to discuss elements of its nuclear activities that had previously been off limits during negotiations. However, he stopped short of predicting whether the talks would ultimately produce an agreement.

“They have agreed to negotiate aspects of their nuclear program that just a month ago, just a year ago, they were refusing to even mention,” Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He did not elaborate.

Rubio cautioned that progress at the negotiating table does not necessarily mean a final accord is within reach, noting that uncertainty and internal instability within Iran’s leadership continue to complicate efforts to secure a lasting arrangement.

He added, however, that it’s “not a guarantee that ultimately it will lead to a deal that’s acceptable” and that these negotiations have been made difficult by the instability of Iran’s leadership.

Those comments came as reports emerged from two semi-official Iranian news agencies claiming that Tehran had suspended contacts with mediators after Israel warned it could target Beirut amid its ongoing military campaign against Hezbollah.

The developments coincided with a new round of State Department-sponsored discussions between Israel and Lebanon. Those talks are taking place against a backdrop of escalating clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, further clouding hopes of preserving an already tenuous ceasefire.

Rubio’s appearance before Congress quickly turned into a broad examination of the Trump administration’s foreign policy challenges. Lawmakers pressed him on a range of issues, including reductions in foreign aid programs, anti-drug operations in Latin America, and diplomatic initiatives in several global hotspots.

Although the hearings were formally intended to address the State Department’s annual budget request, much of the attention centered on the ongoing conflict with Iran and the increasingly uncertain truce that has been tested by continued exchanges of attacks.

Rubio and other administration officials have repeatedly defended President Donald Trump’s decision to enter the conflict, despite longstanding pledges to avoid prolonged military entanglements in the Middle East. At the same time, critics have pointed to shifting administration objectives as a source of confusion and concern.

The secretary’s testimony marked his first public appearance before Congress since fighting erupted on February 28. Shortly after the initial American and Israeli strikes, Rubio participated in classified briefings for lawmakers, where Democrats criticized the lack of congressional authorization while most Republicans voiced support for the military action.

As the war enters its third month, questions about its cost and long-term economic impact have begun to attract bipartisan attention. A growing number of Republicans have joined Democrats in raising concerns about the conflict’s financial burden as the midterm election season approaches.

One of the most significant economic consequences has been disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of globally traded oil and natural gas normally passes. Reduced tanker traffic has contributed to higher fuel prices and broader concerns about energy markets.

Last month, momentum against the war reached a new level when the Senate advanced legislation that would have required Trump to end U.S. involvement in the conflict. The measure gained support after Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy sided with Democrats shortly after losing a primary contest in which Trump had backed his challenger.

A similar effort in the House never reached the floor. Republican leaders blocked a vote on a war powers resolution after concluding they lacked sufficient support within their own ranks to defeat it.

The episode underscored growing divisions within the GOP, as increasing numbers of Republican lawmakers have shown a willingness to break with Trump over the handling of the conflict.

After testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a House Appropriations subcommittee on Tuesday, Rubio is scheduled to return to Capitol Hill on Wednesday for appearances before the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Appropriations subcommittee overseeing State Department funding.

Rubio, whose parents emigrated from Cuba, is also expected to face questions about the administration’s increasingly confrontational posture toward Havana. The issue has drawn heightened attention after Trump suggested Cuba could become a future target once operations involving Iran conclude.

As Rubio entered a Senate briefing room, protesters interrupted the proceedings with chants urging him to “stop killing Cubans.” Security personnel quickly removed the demonstrators from the chamber.

The protesters were quickly pulled from the room. Their chants also included “Let Cuba live!”

Tensions between Washington and Havana have intensified despite ongoing contacts between officials from both countries. The administration recently escalated the dispute by announcing criminal charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro.

Responding to the indictment, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel accused Washington of manufacturing a pretext for future military action, condemning the charges as a political maneuver designed only to “justify the folly of a military aggression against Cuba.”

Throughout his years in Congress and now as America’s chief diplomat, Rubio has consistently argued that Cuba poses a national security concern because of its relationships with U.S. adversaries. He has maintained that the Trump administration remains committed to confronting that challenge.

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{Matzav.com}