Rubio says US remains open to negotiated solutions with Iran

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that Washington remains willing to pursue diplomatic solutions with Iran, emphasizing that the US is open to negotiated settlements to resolve differences.

"The United States is always committed to diplomacy. We are open-minded and always willing to engage in negotiated settlements of differences, and that remains true in the case of Iran," Rubio said at a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the Philippine capital Manila.

He added that Iran has been communicating with Washington both "directly and indirectly" about the possibility of discussions aimed at resolving ongoing tensions.

"The problem we're having right now 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 interests and also the interests of our allies," he said.

Rubio said Iran could not be allowed to control the transit of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

"If we create a precedent in the Middle East where a nation state can decide that they are going to control an international waterway, charge a toll, 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 added.

Rubio reiterated that Washington’s preference remains constructive engagement, provided that any commitments reached through diplomacy are respected.

“The United States remains open and willing to engage in positive, constructive negotiations and talks, so long as the commitments that are made are kept. When those commitments are not kept, which is what's happened in this particular case, then there will be consequences, and that has to happen," he said.

Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran in February. Iran retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Gulf nations hosting US assets.​​​​​​​

The US and Iran signed a Pakistani-mediated memorandum of understanding last month to end their conflict and reach a lasting peace agreement, but tensions escalated again last week over the Strait of Hormuz, with the two sides exchanging attacks.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Tuesday that it carried out its 11th consecutive night of strikes against Iran.

Since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, a total of 18 US service members have been killed and 447 others injured, according to Defense Department figures.