Manila: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Iran is "paying the price" for its repeated failures to honor agreements with Washington. Speaking to reporters in the Philippines during the ASEAN meeting, Rubio asserted that Iran's pattern of making and then breaking deals had led to its current predicament. He emphasized that the consequences of such actions were significant and that Iran might reconsider its approach as it continues to incur losses.

According to TRTworld.com, Rubio further argued that Iran was not prepared to negotiate, accusing its leaders of frequently reneging on agreements. He claimed that Tehran was eager to resume talks with Washington due to the high cost it was incurring. Rubio supported President Donald Trump's policy, describing it as "a head for an eye," indicating that the repercussions for Iran would persist until it decided to negotiate sincerely.

Additionally, Rubio addressed Yemen's Houthi group, urging it to stay out of the regional conflict. He suggested that the group had been manipulated by Tehran and expressed hope that it would cease its involvement. Rubio noted that the Houthis had previously avoided engaging in the conflict but had recently been drawn into targeting Saudi Arabia and its ships. He advised the Houthis to disengage and assured that the United States was ready to assist in resolving the war in Ukraine following discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the ASEAN meeting.

Rubio conveyed President Trump's willingness to facilitate an end to the "senseless war" in Ukraine, contingent upon an appropriate opportunity. During his meeting with Lavrov, Rubio described their conversation as candid but declined to reveal details. He reiterated the United States' preparedness to contribute constructively to ending the conflict, which he described as having caused significant casualties and damage due to Russian attacks on Kiev. Rubio indicated that while both Russia and Ukraine had motivations to conclude the conflict, achieving a mutually acceptable settlement remained a significant challenge.