Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Wednesday that the United States remains open to negotiations with Iran, but warned that "there will be consequences" if Tehran continues to violate its commitments. The U.S. has been engaged in strikes against Iranian military targets for eleven consecutive nights.
Speaking at the ASEAN Summit in the Philippines, Rubio expressed skepticism about Iran's willingness to negotiate in good faith. "The problem we're having right now is they're not serious about talks. If they're serious, we're serious," he said. "If they're not, then we will do what is necessary to protect our interests and also the interests of our allies."
Rubio specifically addressed Iran's demands to control shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that Tehran has no legal authority to do so. He cautioned that allowing such control would establish a dangerous international precedent. "If we create a precedent in the Middle East where a nation-state can decide that they are going to control an international waterway and, if you don't pay them, blow up your ships, we have created a very dangerous precedent, which will repeat itself in other parts of the world, including in this region," Rubio stated, emphasizing that the "fundamental principle of freedom of navigation" is at stake.
These remarks come as the U.S. and Iran are past the halfway point of a 60-day negotiating window established under a June 17 memorandum of understanding. This agreement covers Iran's nuclear and missile programs, sanctions, and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. However, diplomatic progress appears distant, with Iran repeatedly attacking commercial vessels in the strait while U.S. forces continue strikes on Iranian military targets.
President Donald Trump has declared the existing ceasefire "over" but also noted Iran's desire for meetings. Rubio echoed the president, confirming Washington's readiness for negotiation while making clear that military action remains an option. "The United States remains open and willing to engage in positive negotiations and talks so long as the commitments that are made are kept," Rubio said. "When those commitments are not kept, which is what’s happened in this particular case, then there will be consequences. And that has to happen."
Rubio stressed the necessity of maintaining the threat of military action to deter Iran from disrupting global shipping lanes. "If these consequences didn't exist, then today we would be living in a world where a significant percentage of the energy supply in this region and 20% of the world's energy supply is being held hostage by a rogue regime," he added. The U.S. is primarily interested in ensuring that ships continue to move freely through the Strait of Hormuz.