U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States expects a response from Iran today regarding a peace proposal [1].
The outcome of this response could determine if the two nations enter a formal negotiation process to end the current war. A positive reply would signal a shift toward diplomatic resolution in a region marked by instability.
Rubio said to reporters on Friday, May 8, 2026 [1], while visiting Rome, Italy [2]. He said the U.S. is waiting to see the specific details of the Iranian reply and whether it aligns with the goals of the American proposal.
"We should know something today. We're expecting a response from them," Rubio said [3]. "We'll see what the response entails. The hope is it's something that can put us into a serious process in negotiation" [3].
The proposal aims to establish a framework for a peace deal to halt hostilities. While some reports have referred to the effort as a plan to end the war, others describe it specifically as a peace proposal [4, 5].
Rubio did not provide specific details on the terms of the proposal during his remarks in Rome. He said the primary objective of the current timeline is to establish whether Iran is willing to engage in a serious diplomatic process [6].
"We expect Iran to respond today to our peace proposal," Rubio said [1].
“The hope is it's something that can put us into a serious process in negotiation.”
The insistence on a response by May 8, 2026, suggests a high-pressure diplomatic window. If Iran accepts the proposal, it could mitigate immediate risks of escalation in the Strait of Hormuz and transition the conflict from military engagement to a structured diplomatic dialogue.
