Rubio warns Iran of 'consequences' if it isn't serious about negotiations

WASHINGTON, DC: Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday, July 22, the United States remains ready to negotiate with Iran but warned there "will be consequences" if Tehran is not "serious about talks."

His remarks came as US forces completed an 11th consecutive night of strikes against Iranian military targets. Rubio also framed Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz as a threat extending beyond the region to the global economy.

Rubio questions Iran's commitment to negotiations

Speaking at the ASEAN Summit in the Philippines, Rubio said Washington remains open to diplomacy but questioned whether Tehran is negotiating in good faith.

"The problem we're having right now is they're not serious about talks. If they're serious, we're serious," Rubio said. "If they're not, then we will do what is necessary to protect our interests and also the interests of our allies."

Rubio stressed that the United States was still prepared to pursue negotiations but only if Iran honored its commitments.

"The United States remains open and willing to engage in positive negotiations and talks so long as the commitments that are made are kept," he 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 calls Strait of Hormuz a global red line

Rubio also accused Iran of seeking control over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran has no legal authority to dictate access to one of the world's busiest waterways.

"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 said.

He argued that protecting freedom of navigation was essential to preserving international trade.

"If that is threatened, then I think the global economy is threatened, and the rules which have underpinned 150 years of international trade and commerce are also threatened, and that cannot be allowed to happen," Rubio said.

Military pressure remains part of US strategy

Rubio's comments came after the United States and Iran passed the halfway point of a 60-day negotiating window established under a June 17 memorandum of understanding covering Iran's nuclear and missile programs, sanctions and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite that agreement, the two countries have appeared closer to broader conflict than a diplomatic breakthrough, with Iran repeatedly attacking commercial vessels in the strait while US forces continued striking Iranian military targets across the region.

While President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Iran wants to "desperately meet" despite declaring the ceasefire "over," Rubio said maintaining the possibility of military action remains necessary.

"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," Rubio said.