NEW DELHI/DUBAI: Iran and the United States played down hopes for an imminent breakthrough in efforts to end their three-month-old war on Monday, with the top US diplomat saying Washington will either get a good agreement or deal with the country in “another way.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in New Delhi that the US would give diplomacy every chance to succeed before exploring “alternatives,” after President Donald Trump said on Sunday he had told his representatives not to rush into any Iran deal.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced hope of progress on ending the war with Iran, as he looked to Pakistani mediators to help advance efforts to strike an agreement.

ISLAMABAD — Iran and the United States are continuing mediated talks aimed at ending the conflict, with Iranian media reporting that both sides are exchanging...