US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared on Wednesday that Iran is not genuinely committed to negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing war, as the conflict intensifies and disrupts two of the world’s most vital energy transit points.
On Wednesday, four tankers transporting Saudi crude oil to Asia reversed their course in the Red Sea, following a similar move by three other vessels the previous day. This occurred after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who control the southern coastal route, threatened to block Saudi shipping.
Meanwhile, Iran has already threatened maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, forcing millions of barrels of Saudi oil daily to be rerouted to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. This northern route via the Suez Canal significantly prolongs shipment times by several weeks.
US military operations against Iran have expanded recently from southern to central and western regions. In retaliation, Tehran has targeted critical water desalination and energy facilities in Kuwait and claimed strikes on US military assets in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.
Addressing Southeast Asian foreign ministers in Manila, Rubio emphasized, “The issue is that Iran is not serious about talks. If they are, we are too. If not, we will take necessary actions to safeguard our interests and those of our allies.”
In a significant development, mediators have proposed a 10-day ceasefire to Iran, as revealed by a senior Iranian official earlier this week. Analysts interpret the recent Houthi threats to shipping as a strategic move by Iran to strengthen its negotiating position. Mahmoud Shehrah, an associate fellow at Britain’s Chatham House, noted that Tehran is attempting to gain leverage for talks.
The ceasefire proposal seeks to revive an interim agreement reached between Washington and Tehran in June. Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni recently visited Pakistan, a mediator in the conflict, urging continued diplomatic efforts.
Pakistan condemned the Houthi threats to block Saudi oil exports on Wednesday, reaffirming its commitment to dialogue while urging all parties to ensure maritime security and uphold international law.
Iran insists on maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz, a position established during the conflict initiated by the US and Israel on February 28. Rubio warned that such control poses a global threat, including to Southeast Asian nations engaged in territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea.
Amid fears of further escalation, oil prices surged to near six-week highs on Wednesday. Brent crude futures approached $94 per barrel, while US gasoline prices climbed above $4 per gallon, impacting domestic political dynamics ahead of the November midterm elections.
With no diplomatic resolution in sight, US forces conducted airstrikes on Iranian targets for the 11th consecutive night. Early Wednesday, explosions were reported in Tehran as Iran activated its air defenses over the capital.
US attacks struck three sites in Iran’s Bushehr Province, home to the country’s sole nuclear power plant, including an electricity substation near the facility, Iranian state media.
In retaliation, Iran’s military targeted accommodation and equipment storage at the US Al Azraq Air Base in Jordan and later attacked warehouses and aircraft maintenance hangars at Bahrain’s Sheikh Isa Air Base using Arash suicide drones.
Jordan reported intercepting four Iranian drones and six missiles, though independent verification of these claims was not immediately available.
US President Donald Trump confirmed that 18 American service members have died in the conflict so far, including four in recent Iranian attacks on US bases in Jordan and Iraq.
Trump noted that while the Houthis have threatened to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial passage into the Red Sea, they have not yet done so. He warned of potential action against them if they attempt to block this route, which, if closed, could severely constrain global oil supplies by trapping most Saudi exports.
In addition, Trump reiterated his intention to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities at Natanz, located within a mountain, “pretty soon.” He claimed that after a US bombing in June 2025, these sites were “totally obliterated,” and Iran has vowed retaliation.
