President Trump stood by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday, asserting his crucial involvement in critical negotiations with Iran. This comes amid claims that Rubio has been overshadowed by a select group of White House insiders.

In a conversation held in the Oval Office, the President faced inquiries from the Daily Mail regarding Rubio’s notable absence from recent peace discussions. Meanwhile, figures such as Vice President JD Vance, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and the President’s son-in-law Jared Kushner appear to be taking prominent roles.

As tensions remain high with the fragile ceasefire, the Daily Mail posed a direct question: ‘Why isn’t the Secretary of State participating in these negotiations?’

President Trump, addressing the concerns head-on, swiftly dismissed any rumors of discord within his administration.

‘Oh, he is very much involved. Marco? He is totally… he is negotiating with them all the time,’ Trump affirmed, emphasizing that Rubio is integral to the diplomatic efforts.

Despite Trump’s assurances, the frail state of the ceasefire has highlighted Rubio’s absence, leading to speculation about his role in the ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Trump also notably claimed today that only he and a select ‘handful’ of confidants truly know the state of high–stakes negotiations with Iran, suggesting that a breakthrough may be closer than the public standstill suggests.

‘Nobody knows what the talks are, except myself and a couple of other people,’ Trump declared, though he admitted that the mystery surrounding Tehran’s current power structure has complicated the process. ‘

President Trump defended Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s role in high–stakes negotiations with Iran on Thursday, dismissing suggestions that the nation’s top diplomat has been sidelined in favor of a powerful inner circle of White House confidants

During an exchange in the Oval Office, the President was questioned by the Daily Mail on why Rubio has been conspicuously absent from the front lines of recent peace talks

‘How come the Secretary of State is not involved in these negotiations?’ the Daily Mail asked as the ceasefire hangs by a thread

‘Oh, he is very much involved. Marco? He is totally… he is negotiating with them all the time,’ the President responded, insisting that Rubio remains a central figure in the administration’s efforts

However, with the ceasefire described by insiders as being on life support, the optics of the Secretary of State’s absence from the negotiating table have raised questions about his absence

‘We have a problem because nobody knows for sure who the leaders are. It’s a little bit of a problem,’ he added, alluding to the power vacuum gripping the Islamic Republic.

Despite the turmoil, the President insisted the regime is desperate to reach a settlement, with his blockade of the Strait of Hormuz exacting a crippling toll.

Hailing his ‘maximum pressure’ tactics, Trump cast the economic squeeze on Iran as a masterstroke.

‘Their economy is crashing. The power of the blockade is incredible,’ he said.

With military action still on the table, Trump nonetheless played down the need to resume airstrikes, suggesting the ceasefire could hold without further intervention.

‘I don’t know that we need it. We might need it,’ he mused — stopping short of ruling out a return to force should diplomacy fail.

The President also revealed a striking shift in his Wednesday call with Vladimir Putin.

Though the Russian leader offered to act as intermediary with Iran, Trump said he steered the conversation toward the bloodshed in Ukraine instead.

Urging Russia to end its own war first, he disclosed that he pressed Putin to agree to a ceasefire.

Trump held a private call with Putin on Wednesday to discuss tying the end of the Iran war to Russia’s conflict with Ukraine

Vance returned empty–handed from the first round of talks in Islamabad on April 12, above. Special envoys Jared Kushner (left) and Steve Witkoff (center) have taken over in–person diplomacy

The Kremlin claims Putin offered a temporary truce with Ukraine for the annual celebration of the World War II victory over Nazi Germany on May 9

‘I suggested a little bit of a ceasefire, and I think he might do that. He might announce something having to do with that,’ Trump said, calling the continued loss of life ‘ridiculous.’

Putin reportedly praised Trump’s decision to extend the Iran ceasefire to allow further diplomatic talks — an extension that has since been backed by a US naval blockade to pressure Tehran back to the negotiating table.

The Kremlin claims Putin offered Ukraine a temporary truce timed to Russia’s Victory Day commemorations on May 9.

A Russian spokesman said the call was ‘friendly, frank and businesslike’ and lasted more than an hour and a half.

Russia has previously attempted to insert itself into the Iran talks by offering to house Tehran’s enriched uranium stockpile – a gambit Trump rebuffed, insisting the material be handed directly to the United States. The standoff has since become a central sticking point in the stalled peace process.

Tehran, meanwhile, is holding out for the lifting of all US sanctions and a demand that would hand it effective control over tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump reportedly rejected Putin’s offer, instead demanding Iran hand the stockpile directly to the US, a sticking point that has stalled peace talks

The President believes the economic blockade represents the least risky of the options presented to him, officials said

Putin reportedly praised Trump’s decision to extend the ceasefire with Iran to allow for further diplomatic discussions

Besides Rubio, Trump also notably claimed today that only he and a select ‘handful’ of confidants truly know the state of high–stakes negotiations with Iran, suggesting that a breakthrough may be closer than the public standstill suggests

During a Situation Room meeting on Monday, Trump told key staffers he favoured extending the blockade over either pressing ahead with strikes or abandoning the Iran strategy altogether, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The President views the economic blockade as the least risky of the options before him, officials said.

One official said the blockade has decimated the Iranian economy, preventing the country from storing its oil properly.

‘The President will only accept a deal that protects the national security of our country,’ White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement.

She added that Operation Epic Fury had already met all of Trump’s military objectives and that ‘thanks to the successful blockade of Iranian ports, the United States has maximum leverage over the regime.’

Trump has held off on further strikes since a ceasefire was reached on April 7 – though gas prices remain elevated and his poll numbers continue to slide.

Yet peace talks have so far failed to yield a deal, and planned negotiations with Vance, scheduled for this past weekend, were cancelled before they began.