US ‘open’ to negotiations with Iran but Tehran not ‘serious’, Rubio says

Lead

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the United States remains open to a diplomatic solution to end the conflict with Iran but accused Tehran of not being serious about negotiations. Speaking on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers' meeting in Manila, Rubio said Iran has been reaching out to Washington, but its actions do not match its words.

"Iran has been reaching out to the United States both directly and indirectly to engage in talks about settling the differences," Rubio told reporters. However, he added, "The problem we're having right now is that they're not serious about talks. If they're serious, we're serious."

Rubio's comments came as the United States continued its military campaign against Iran, with strikes reported for multiple consecutive nights. The conflict, which began in late February, has also disrupted two of the world's most critical energy chokepoints, according to reports.

Coverage Comparison

Al Jazeera reported that Rubio said Iran is privately pressing Washington for a deal but is not yet "ready" to accept one. In one Al Jazeera report, Rubio described Iran as "begging us, both directly and indirectly, 'Let's do a deal. Let's talk,'" but said Tehran's history of breaking agreements suggests it is not ready to make a deal. The report also quoted Rubio as saying that Iran will "continue to pay a price, and every night the price gets higher and higher."

Another Al Jazeera report focused on Rubio's remarks about the Strait of Hormuz, where he warned that allowing Iran to control the waterway and charge tolls would set a "dangerous precedent" with global repercussions.

The Jerusalem Post also covered Rubio's statements, reporting that the US is still open to a diplomatic solution but that Iran's behavior must change for Washington to change its approach. In one report, Rubio cited an incident where Iran was supposed to announce the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz but instead attacked three ships. The Jerusalem Post also quoted Rubio as saying that Iran's economy is struggling because of its funding of "proxy terror organizations."

TASS, the Russian state news agency, reported Rubio's comments from the ASEAN meeting, noting that Tehran has reached out to Washington but the US does not believe Iran is serious. TASS also reported Rubio's assertion that the United States has never sought regime change in Iran and that its main goal is to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Some differences emerge in the coverage regarding the duration of the US strikes. Al Jazeera reported strikes for the 9th, 11th, and 12th consecutive nights in separate articles, while the Jerusalem Post referenced the ongoing campaign without specifying a nightly count in its reports. TASS noted that the US resumed large-scale strikes on Iran on July 8, accusing it of violating an earlier memorandum of understanding.

Key Claims

• Rubio said the US is "always open to a diplomatic solution" but that any deal must be "real" and one Iran is willing to live by, as reported by Al Jazeera and the Jerusalem Post.

• Iran has been reaching out to Washington both directly and indirectly for negotiations, but the US does not believe Tehran is serious about talks, according to Al Jazeera, the Jerusalem Post, and TASS.

• Rubio warned that Iran will "pay a price" for its actions and that the price will increase nightly until Tehran "comes to its senses," as reported by Al Jazeera and the Jerusalem Post.

• Rubio described President Trump's approach to dealing with Iran as "a head for an eye," a phrase reported by Al Jazeera and the Jerusalem Post.

• The US strikes on Iran have continued for multiple nights, with Al Jazeera reporting strikes for the 9th, 11th, and 12th consecutive nights in separate articles. One Al Jazeera report also mentioned the deaths of three American soldiers in Iranian retaliatory attacks.

• Rubio said Iran's economy is struggling because it has funneled funds to groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, as reported by Al Jazeera and the Jerusalem Post.

• Rubio said the US is providing a service by protecting global shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.

• The conflict has disrupted two of the world's most critical energy chokepoints, according to reports from Al Jazeera and the Jerusalem Post.

• Rubio said the US has never sought regime change in Iran and that its main goal is to denuclearize the country, as reported by TASS.

• Rubio said the US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in June, but the US resumed strikes on July 8, accusing Iran of violating the terms, as reported by TASS and the Jerusalem Post.

Perspectives

The coverage of Rubio's statements is predominantly sourced from his remarks at the ASEAN meeting, with Al Jazeera, the Jerusalem Post, and TASS all quoting him directly. While the outlets frame the story from different angles — Al Jazeera emphasized Iran's alleged lack of readiness for a deal, the Jerusalem Post highlighted the need for Iran's behavior to change, and TASS focused on the outreach and the US stance on regime change — the narrative is consistent: the US is open to diplomacy but skeptical of Iran's intentions. No other named perspective, such as an official Iranian response, appears in the material.

Corrections and Context

Reports on the number of consecutive nights of US strikes vary: Al Jazeera has reported the 9th, 11th, and 12th nights in separate articles. The US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in June, but the US resumed strikes on July 8, accusing Iran of violating the agreement regarding the Strait of Hormuz, according to TASS.