Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned Iran that it “will pay an increasingly higher price” until it agrees to a deal with the United States for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the control of its nuclear program, stressing that Tehran “begs” to hold negotiations but shows no commitment to reach an agreement.
Read more Peru’s Justice extends Pedro Castillo’s preventive detention by one year for corruption case
“Iran is begging us, both directly and indirectly,” he said in statements from Manila, where he participated in the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), although he noted that given the tensions in Hormuz and attacks on commercial shipping, “it seems they are not ready to reach an agreement.”
“They will continue to pay a price. And every night that price increases more and more. That is what is happening now. And perhaps in a few days they will be ready to reach an agreement when they realize that this is not a winning strategy for them,” summarized the head of US diplomacy regarding the wave of attacks by the United States Army, which has carried out its twelfth night of attacks against Iran.
“The idea is that this is not going to continue this way. The price will continue to increase every night until they come to their senses. At this moment, it seems, they have not yet come to their senses,” he indicated regarding the approach to Iran, where the parties have exchanged blows amid rising tensions around Hormuz.
Rubio has thus indicated that for the moment Tehran is not ready to reach an agreement “that it is willing to comply with.” “The problem is that, every time these people make an agreement, they either break it or, after signing it, they want to change its terms. So they are probably not ready to reach an agreement yet, but they will be soon,” he noted.
He thus responded to the Iranian authorities, who said they would respond to US attacks and that their policy is “an eye for an eye,” assuring that Donald Trump’s doctrine is “a head for an eye.” “Honestly, that’s how it’s going to be. They are going to pay a very high price for the things they are doing,” he threatened, stressing that the standoff in Hormuz will not come free for the Islamic Republic.
Read more Iran warns US military that they will commit war crimes if they attack bridges and power plants
Regarding the instability in the Red Sea after the Houthi rebels’ attacks against Saudi merchant ships, the US Secretary of State has indicated that he hopes they “stop,” after stating that the Yemeni rebels have been “deceived” by Iran into “getting into this,” in reference to the naval blockade announced against Riyadh.
“The Houthis were, to a large extent, smart and stayed out of all this during the conflict. But now, it seems, they have also been dragged in and are getting involved,” he described.
Rubio has pointed out that attacks on international shipping affect all actors, and that one of the attacked vessels carries fuel and sails under a Chinese flag. “Are they going to attack a Chinese ship and turn this into a problem for China?” he asked about the actions of the Houthi rebels.
“I hope the situation de-escalates because, frankly, I think the Houthis were tricked by the Iranians into getting into all this. They were smart to stay out, they should continue to do so, and they should stop,” he emphasized.
The Houthis have claimed several Saudi ships in the area in application of the naval blockade they had been announcing in recent days in response to attacks perpetrated by the United States against Iran.
