US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Iran is “not serious about talks” throughout his opening remarks on the assembly of the international ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Wednesday in Manila, Philippines.
Rubio stated that “the problem we’re having right now (with Iran) is that they’re not serious about talks. If they’re serious, we’re serious. If they’re not, then we will do what is necessary to protect our interest and also the interests of our allies.”
The “fundamental principle of freedom of navigation” is at stake, Rubio stated.
“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,” he stated.
For context: The Strait of Hormuz was totally open without cost and secure passage earlier than the US and Israel attacked Iran in February at first of the battle. Iran sees management of the waterway as its Most worthy level of leverage in negotiations and, in current weeks, has repeatedly fired on vessels it stated had not liaised with Iranian authorities earlier than transiting.