Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed Washington’s willingness to pursue a diplomatic resolution with Iran while expressing skepticism about Tehran’s willingness to negotiate in good faith.
At an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Manila on Wednesday, Rubio said, “The United States remains open and willing to engage in positive and constructive negotiations and discussions, provided that the commitments made are honored,” Reuters reported.
He further highlighted that the current issue is that Iran is “not serious about talks.”
“If they’re serious, we’re serious. If they’re not, then we will do what’s necessary to protect our interests and also the interests of our allies,” Rubio stated in the Philippine capital.
Rubio also addressed Iran’s demands to control the transit of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, stating that it’s a threat to the fundamental principle of freedom of navigation. “That cannot be allowed to happen,” he concluded.
At the time of writing, Brent crude oil rose 0.80% to $84.73 per barrel, while WTI crude oil futures jumped 3.88% to $87.62 per barrel.
Rubio Pushes Talks, Trump Escalates
Just days before the ASEAN meeting, Rubio had expressed the U.S.’s openness to diplomatic discussions with Iran, despite ongoing military strikes. He had also criticized Iran for its attacks on ships and blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global trade.
On the other hand, President Donald Trump on Tuesday signaled a possible escalation by suggesting American forces could soon target an area near Iran’s main uranium enrichment facilities. “…until they’re ready to meet in a meaningful way, we have no interest in meeting,” he told reporters in the Oval Office.
Meanwhile, the cost of the U.S.-Israel war against Iran has been officially estimated at $37.5 billion by the Pentagon. This figure was revealed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a Senate hearing.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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