Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States is open to diplomatic negotiations with Iran despite intensified military actions. During a press briefing at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, he addressed the ongoing tensions.
The U.S. launched nine consecutive nights of strikes in Iran. Rubio emphasized, “We’ve tried multiple times with Iran, and we’ll continue to try. If that door opens, we’ll be happy to see it open.” However, he insisted that Iran’s behavior must change for any meaningful progress.
Iran has been signaling a willingness to negotiate, Rubio noted, mentioning both direct communications and through intermediaries. Despite this, public diplomatic efforts are absent as both sides have increased their military engagements. Rubio said, “Their behavior is what we’re responding to, and their behavior is they’re launching missiles and drones against ships, including tonight.”
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps claimed responsibility for disturbances involving oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Two tankers experienced explosions and stopped movement after navigating a route that Tehran disapproved.
Attacks on ships in the strait by Iran started a series of retaliations. Both nations continue to express control over this crucial channel for global oil transport. Rubio argued that these actions breached a previous agreement from June, which Tehran interprets as giving them control over shipping routes in the strait.
Rubio responded to a question about President Trump’s abandoned proposal to charge fees for ship passage. He urged other nations to contribute resources or finances, stating, “not the United States’ job to protect shipping for the entire planet forever.”
This ongoing conflict highlights the complexity and risks associated with international shipping and diplomacy within the region.
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