U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday accused Iran of failing to honour commitments made during diplomatic contacts over the escalating Middle East crisis, warning that Washington remained prepared for negotiations but would not hesitate to act if Tehran continued to undermine efforts to reach a settlement.
Rubio delivered a message to Iran as he addressed the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference in Manila, saying Iran had reached out to the United States through both direct and indirect channels in an attempt to discuss the conflict, but questioned Tehran’s willingness to negotiate in good faith.
“The United States is always committed to diplomacy,” Rubio said. “We are open-minded and always willing to engage in negotiated settlements of differences.”
However, he said previous understandings had not been honoured.
“Unfortunately, so far, even though we have reached agreements, they have not kept their commitments,” Rubio said, adding that Washington’s willingness to negotiate depended on whether Iran demonstrated genuine intent.
“If they’re serious, we’re serious. If they’re not, then we will do what is necessary to protect our interests and also the interests of our allies.”
Rubio said the immediate dispute centred on Iran’s demand to control maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies pass. He rejected any suggestion that Tehran had the legal authority to regulate passage through the strategic shipping lane.
“This is an international waterway,” Rubio said. “Iran demands the right, which they do not have under any existing legal mechanism, to control the transit of traffic through the Straits of Hormuz.”
He argued that allowing any country to impose unilateral control over an international sea lane would set a dangerous global precedent extending far beyond the Middle East.
“If we create a precedent where a nation state can decide that they are going to control an international waterway, charge a toll, 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.”
Rubio said the issue went beyond the immediate confrontation with Iran and struck at one of the fundamental principles governing international commerce.
“What is at stake here is not simply the issue of what’s happening in the Straits of Hormuz. It’s a very fundamental principle about freedom of navigation.”
He warned that any disruption to free navigation through the waterway would have consequences for the global economy.
“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.”
While reiterating Washington’s preference for diplomacy, Rubio said negotiations could succeed only if commitments were respected.
“The United States remains open and willing to engage in positive, constructive negotiations and talks so long as the commitments that are made are kept.”
He added that if diplomatic agreements continued to be ignored, Washington would respond.
“When those commitments are not kept, which is what’s happened in this particular case, then there will be consequences.”
Rubio also argued that firm U.S. action was necessary to prevent Iran from using the strategic waterway as leverage over global energy markets.
Without consequences, he said, “a significant percentage of the energy supply of this region and 20 percent of the energy supply of the world” would effectively be held hostage by what he described as “a rogue regime.”
Shifting his focus to Southeast Asia, Rubio sought to reassure ASEAN members that the region remained a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy despite multiple global crises.
Echoing President Donald Trump’s commitment made at last year’s U.S.-ASEAN Summit, Rubio said Washington was “with ASEAN 100 percent” and described the regional bloc as the primary platform for U.S. engagement in Southeast Asia.
Announcing a broad package of economic initiatives, Rubio said the United States would invest $2.5 billion in strategic projects across Southeast Asia, aimed at strengthening regional development, economic resilience and security.
He stressed that the investments were driven by U.S. strategic interests rather than development aid.
“This is not charity. This is not something we’re doing because we’re nice people… it’s in our national interest.”
“Our partnership with each of your countries and the region at large is in the national interest of the United States, and we will never abandon it,” he said.
Rubio also announced $1.5 billion in new financing through the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to support aviation infrastructure, energy security and secure supply chains across the region.
In addition, Washington will provide nearly $130 million in assistance for demining programmes across ASEAN countries and expand cooperation on liquefied natural gas, electricity grids, civil nuclear energy, critical minerals and regional energy infrastructure.
Describing Southeast Asia as the centre of future global growth, Rubio said developments in the region would shape international politics and economics for decades.
“I believe very much that the future and the story of the 21st century will be written in this region and by how events unfold here.”
He reaffirmed that the United States intended to remain ASEAN’s long-term strategic partner.
