Rubio: We seek a diplomatic solution with Iran that ensures it does not acquire nuclear weapons

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “Iranian officials have been in contact with us in an attempt to negotiate regarding the current escalation, and we are skeptical about the viability of talks because the Iranian side has not honored its commitments.”

Rubio, speaking in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers’ meeting, said: “We are open to negotiating with Iran and continue to defend ships and freedom of navigation. We seek a diplomatic solution with Iran that ensures it does not acquire nuclear weapons.” He noted that Tehran is “in a great predicament, especially amid inflation and the repercussions of the escalation on the economic situation,” and affirmed that President Donald Trump has many options if Tehran does not cooperate. He spoke of a “lack of trust in the Iranian regime” and stated that the memorandum of understanding was breached less than two weeks after its signing.

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, he said, “There are attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, and we are defending freedom of navigation. We are working to restrict Iran’s ability to target ships and threaten navigation, and it must commit to opening the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring freedom of navigation.” He emphasized, “We will not accept any state’s control over sea lanes and water bodies around the world.”

Rubio accused Iran of targeting “commercial traffic in an important waterway,” noting that “there are countries affected by this.” The US minister considered the Houthis’ threat to impose a naval blockade a problem, and asserted that Iran is the one causing trouble.

In a speech during his participation in the ASEAN meeting, Rubio warned that Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz would set a dangerous precedent that could extend beyond the Middle East. He added, “If we set a precedent in the Middle East that allows a state to control an international waterway, impose transit fees, and blow up your ships if you don’t pay, we are establishing a very dangerous precedent that will be repeated in other parts of the world, including this region.”

He continued, “The matter is fundamentally very simple. Iran is claiming a right it does not possess under any existing legal mechanism to control the passage of navigation traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. A fundamental principle concerning freedom of navigation is under threat, and we cannot allow that to happen.”

The US Secretary of State added, “The problem we are currently facing is that they (the Iranians) are not dealing with negotiations seriously. If they are serious, we will be serious as well. If they are not, we will do whatever is necessary to protect our interests and those of our allies.”

On another note, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that he would meet his US counterpart in Manila on Thursday for talks focusing on the war in Ukraine and the Middle East. Lavrov told journalists, “The meeting will be useful in any case. It is good to ask questions and get answers,” adding that the meeting would take place on Thursday on the sidelines of the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting in the Philippine capital.