US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says intermediary countries are “passing messages and progress has been made” in talks with Iran, Al Jazeera reports.

“There’s a growing amount of energy that’s been flowing through the straits, not as much as should be flowing, but some of it has picked up,” he has told reporters.

“There’s been some progress in regards to the exchange of messages, but that’s an ongoing and fluid process, and not one we’re going to negotiate or talk about in the media.”

Rubio said the Strait of Hormuz “can be open tomorrow if Iran stops threatening global shipping”.

“For all these countries that care about international law, they should be doing something about it,” he added.