Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, that the United States remains willing to negotiate with Iran but warned there "will be consequences" if Tehran continues to violate its commitments. Speaking at the ASEAN Summit in the Philippines, Rubio highlighted that Washington remains open to diplomacy but questioned whether Iran is negotiating in good faith.

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

His remarks came hours after U.S. forces completed their 11th consecutive night of strikes against Iranian military targets and after the U.S. and Iran passed the halfway point of a 60-day negotiating window established under a June 17 memorandum of understanding. This agreement covers Iran's nuclear and missile programs, sanctions, and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Rubio warned against allowing any nation-state to control an international waterway by force, stating, "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."

He further cautioned that such threats endanger the global economy and the rules underpinning 150 years of international trade and commerce, which "cannot be allowed to happen."

Rubio also noted the strategic importance of the region's energy supply, saying, "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."

Echoing the president's stance, Rubio affirmed that while the U.S. remains prepared to negotiate, military force remains an option if diplomacy fails.

Sources