US Secretary of State: Iran is not serious about negotiating efforts

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio/DOK U.S. Department of State

JAKARTA - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Iran was not serious about negotiating efforts amid high tensions between the US and Tehran.

This was conveyed by Rubio in his opening speech at the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Wednesday, July 22, in Manila, Philippines.

"The United States is always committed to diplomacy. We are open-minded and always willing to engage, negotiate, and resolve differences," said the US Secretary of State, as reported by CNN.

"The problem we are facing today (with Iran) is that they are not serious about negotiations. If they are serious, we are serious. If not, then we will take the necessary steps to protect our interests and the interests of our allies," Rubio continued.

Rubio warned of the creation of a "dangerous precedent" if Iran were allowed to dominate the Strait of Hormuz. According to him, Iran has no right - based on any legal mechanism currently in force - to control traffic in international waterways.

"The basic principle of freedom of navigation is at stake," Rubio said.

"If this is threatened, then I think the global economy is also threatened, as are the rules that have been the foundation of international trade and commerce for the past 150 years," he said.