Rubio Says Diplomacy Still An Option With Iran
President Donald Trump gave Iran multiple opportunities to avoid the current conflict with the United States months before it began.
After the war started, the administration continued to reach out to the surviving regime in Tehran, offering one olive branch after another.
But even after agreeing to a 60-day ceasefire in late June, the Iranians continued to attack commercial tankers and shipping, which then led to a new wave of strikes by the U.S., which is now in its ninth day.
That said, Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted on Sunday that the United States remains open to diplomacy with Iran.
Rubio said Sunday night that Iran had effectively ended a memorandum of understanding intended to keep the Strait of Hormuz open after Tehran attacked multiple commercial vessels, while emphasizing that the United States remains willing to pursue a diplomatic resolution.
Speaking with reporters at Joint Base Andrews before departing for the Philippines for the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting, Rubio said Iran had been expected to reaffirm its commitment to keeping the strategic waterway open to commercial shipping and to cease attacks on vessels.
Instead, he said, Iran attacked three commercial ships late last week.
“I think we’re always open to diplomacy,” Rubio said.
“It has to be real. It has to be a deal that they’re willing to live by,” he said.
When asked if the memorandum of understanding was truly dead, Rubio stated that Iran had already answered that question through its actions.
“They’re not complying with it,” Rubio said.
“The straits are supposed to be open, free of tolls, free of attack, free of all the things they’re doing against these ships,” he continued, per Fox News.
“They can’t have an MOU that’s alive if they’re violating the terms of it.”
Nevertheless, Rubio said the U.S. is still willing to sit down and discuss peace terms with the Iranians, but their behavior will have to change first.
“The United States always remains open to a diplomatic solution,” Rubio said. “We’ve tried multiple times with Iran, and we’ll continue to try.”
Last week, President Donald Trump convened his top national security advisers for a high-level Situation Room meeting.
The closed-door session came as U.S. forces continued military operations against Iranian targets and the president publicly warned that even more devastating strikes could be on the horizon if Tehran refuses to negotiate.
Axios first reported that the discussions centered on military options extending well beyond the current U.S. strikes around the Strait of Hormuz, to increase pressure on Iran to reopen the strategic waterway and accept U.S. demands regarding its nuclear program.
According to the report, those attending the meeting included Vice President JD Vance, Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, White House envoy Steve Witkoff and other senior national security officials.
The White House declined to comment on the meeting or the reported military discussions.
The meeting took place as U.S. forces carried out a fourth consecutive day of strikes targeting Iranian air-defense systems, radar installations, anti-ship missile positions, and drone launch sites near the Strait of Hormuz.
According to U.S. officials, those operations are intended to significantly reduce Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping through one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
Iran has continued retaliatory attacks against U.S. positions in the region, including missile and drone strikes targeting American bases in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain, while also threatening broader disruptions to Middle Eastern energy exports.
On Tuesday, the United States also implemented a naval blockade targeting Iranian ports as part of its broader military response.
Before entering the Situation Room, Trump signaled that the current campaign could expand dramatically if Iran refuses to negotiate.
“The U.S. military is going to hit Iran hard over the next three days,” Trump said during an interview with Fox News.
Iran TV Airs Sick Threat Against Barron Trump, Reports of $10M Bounty
Iranian state media aired an insane video about killing Barron Trump, along with reporting a $10 million bounty on his head ... and it's sure to get President Donald Trump's attention.
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CAUSE FOR CONCERN
Video: Iran TV Broadcasts Disturbing Threat Against Barron Trump, Reports $10M Bounty
The "Where to kill Barron Trump" clip says Barron's movements are being "fully monitored" while he's attending New York University ... and claims Barron's accounts for Xbox and Discord have been hacked.
The video goes into depth about what Barron wears ... and what his bodyguards wear. It also alleges his travel habits.
Per reports, the f-ed-up video is tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ... and it's a big-time escalation in the threats coming out of Iran toward Trump as the war rages on.
The chilling video aired amid Trump ratcheting up pressure on Iran to finally crack ... his latest measure, dubbed "economic D-Day,” is meant to cripple Iran's economy.
The video might just be a BS scary tactic ... but it's still pretty freaking unnerving for the 20-year-old college student.
Chaos around Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s future as ‘six month plan’ revealed
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are just days away from relocating back to Britain with their children.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may be relocating back to the UK in a matter of days, however, they may not actually be staying here permanently. Just last week, it was reported that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, alongside their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will be moving back to Britain.
It was reported that the children had already been enrolled on British schools, with the exact name and location of the school not revealed. It was also reported that the family would live in a private, non-royal residence, with the location kept private for security reasons. The motive behind the move was not reported.
While many think this means the Sussex family will be back in the UK - the country they once criticised very publicly - someone close to the couple has revealed that it could actually only be temporary.
The source told The Times: “It’ll be an extended period of time — it could be six months, it could be a year, it could be more — I don’t think even they know yet.
“They might suddenly go: ‘Why don’t we try Canada for a while? Why don’t we try Australia?’ It’s one of the great things about being private individuals [that they can live where they choose].”
The family has spent the last six years living in Montecito, California (Image: Instagram / @meghan)
Harry and Meghan themselves have not released a statement on their upcoming move back to Harry’s home country.
Rumours have been swirling about why they are relocating, with some people believing it is due to Harry’s desire to be close to King Charles.
Other reports suggest that Meghan has been offered an acting role based in Britain, although there is no official confirmation.
The family are reportedly set to fly over from California before the end of August, allowing the children to settle before they start at their new school. It has been reported that the family will keep their Montecito home in America, and their Portugal holiday home. It has also been reported that the family's chickens will stay at the Montecito home, while the family's two dogs are expected to fly over to the UK with them.
