U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that Washington remains willing to negotiate an end to the Iran conflict, but accused Tehran of failing to engage seriously, as the expanding confrontation continued to disrupt key global energy shipping routes and fuel fears of a broader regional crisis.
Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of Southeast Asian foreign ministers in Manila, Rubio reiterated that the United States preferred diplomacy but warned it would continue military action if Iran refused to negotiate.
“We’re always committed to diplomacy,” Rubio said. “The problem we’re having right now is that they’re 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.”
Diplomatic Window Remains Open
Despite the escalating violence, diplomatic efforts remain active.
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A senior Iranian official told Reuters earlier this week that Tehran had received a proposal from international mediators for a 10-day ceasefire aimed at preserving the interim U.S.-Iran agreement reached in June. Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni also visited Pakistan, which has served as a key mediator, requesting that Islamabad continue its diplomatic efforts.
Rubio acknowledged that negotiations remain possible but stressed that Iran could not be allowed to control international waterways.
“If we create a precedent where a nation decides it can control an international waterway, charge a toll, and attack ships that refuse to comply, we create a dangerous example that could spread to other regions, including Southeast Asia,” he said, drawing parallels to ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
Shipping Routes Under Pressure
The conflict has increasingly threatened two of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints: the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The latest disruption followed an announcement by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement that it would impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, opening another potential front in the conflict.
Shipping concerns intensified after three oil tankers carrying Saudi crude to China and India reportedly reversed course in the Red Sea rather than continue toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, highlighting growing fears among commercial operators.
Iran, meanwhile, continues to threaten shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption.
Military Operations Intensify
While diplomacy continues behind the scenes, military operations have shown no signs of slowing.
The U.S. military carried out its 11th consecutive night of strikes against targets inside Iran, with Iranian media reporting explosions around Tehran as air defence systems responded.
Iranian officials also reported strikes in Bushehr Province, home to the country’s only nuclear power plant. According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, one attack hit an electricity facility near the nuclear complex.
Iran’s military said it responded with drone attacks targeting U.S. military facilities in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain, including aircraft maintenance facilities, equipment warehouses and accommodation buildings. Reuters could not independently verify those claims.
President Donald Trump confirmed that 18 U.S. service members have been killed since the conflict began, including four in recent Iranian attacks on American military bases in Jordan and Iraq.
“So far it hasn’t happened,” Trump said when asked about the Houthis potentially closing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. “If something like that happens, we take care of it.”
Oil Markets Brace for More Volatility
The widening conflict has already rattled energy markets.
Brent crude traded above $91 per barrel on Wednesday, while U.S. gasoline prices climbed back above $4 per gallon as traders priced in the growing risk of prolonged supply disruptions.
The Houthis have threatened to target any vessels transporting Saudi oil, increasing concerns that global energy supplies could face further disruption if attacks continue.
Saudi Arabia has so far managed to redirect some exports through its Red Sea terminal at Yanbu. However, analysts warn that if the Bab el-Mandeb Strait becomes effectively closed, even that alternative route could be compromised, placing additional pressure on already strained global energy markets.
Uncertain Path Ahead
With diplomacy still alive but military operations intensifying on both sides, hopes for a negotiated settlement remain fragile.
The proposed ceasefire has yet to gain traction, while continued strikes and mounting threats to global shipping are keeping markets and governments on edge. Until meaningful negotiations resume, the conflict is likely to remain a major source of geopolitical uncertainty, with consequences extending far beyond the Middle East.
With information from Reuters.
