Rubio: Iran Demands Are 'Outrageous' as Qatari PM Visits for Talks

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Monday that negotiations with Iran are not progressing. He described the Iranian demands as unacceptable and, in some cases, outrageous. Rubio said the United States will take defensive actions if needed to protect its forces and shipping in the region.

"If there's a clear and present threat to shipping or to our forces in the region, we have a right to defend ourselves," Rubio said in Florida before traveling to a Group of 7 foreign ministers meeting in Paris. He added that the president would always prefer to solve problems diplomatically, but sometimes that is not possible.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in the Oval Office on Monday. The White House announced that Al Thani will also meet with Vice President JD Vance before sitting down with the President. Qatar has served as a key mediator in the talks between the United States and Iran.

Trump also addressed the recent midterm election results. He told 60 Minutes that Americans have a great dislike for Israel. He noted that voters did not like the war or the rise in gasoline prices. "And there's a great dislike, incredibly, for Israel," Trump said. He also mentioned that he was not on the ballot and that voters disliked some of the Republican candidates.

The President defended his decision to launch the war against Iran despite the economic cost. He said the country would have been safe if Iran had not been stopped from pursuing a nuclear weapon. "This, historically, will go down as one of the best things we ever did because if [Iran] ever had a nuclear weapon, they would blow up the world… Because they're crazy," Trump said.

Rubio said Trump launched the war to safeguard the world from Iran's nuclear ambitions, even if it was not necessarily popular. "He addressed it even though oftentimes the right thing to do for the country, confronting difficult challenges for the security of our country, doing it isn't necessarily popular, but necessary," Rubio said.

Trump said he plans to make additional cabinet changes after replacing chief of staff Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller. He said he believes Secretary of State Marco Rubio will remain in the role. "He's doing a fantastic job," Trump said. The President also joked that he was only kidding when he suggested UFC CEO Dana White could become his next White House press secretary.

Trump commented on the Israeli government formation process. He said Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are very similar in terms of policy. "They're very similar in terms of their policy… [Eisenkot] said very nice things about me. He says he loves Trump, but… I haven't seen what's happening. It's certainly a contest between him and Bibi Netanyahu. We'll see what happens," Trump said.

Eisenkot has sought to differentiate himself from Netanyahu on governance style but has avoided outlining substantive policy differences. He has indicated a desire to form a more moderate government than Netanyahu's outgoing coalition, which included far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties. Eisenkot avoided criticizing Trump after the President endorsed Netanyahu ahead of last month's Knesset election.

In the West Bank, troops opened fire on a suspect holding a Molotov cocktail in the area of Zababdeh, south of Jenin. The Israel Defense Forces said the suspect was hit and no Israeli troops were wounded. The Palestinian Authority news agency WAFA claimed the person shot was a 13-year-old who was hit in the chest and taken to a hospital. Residents on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz reported hearing several explosions, though the cause has not been officially confirmed.