Rubio Says Iran Is Urgently Seeking a Deal, Yet Unready to Commit

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Iran is privately urging Washington to reach an agreement to end ongoing hostilities, but Tehran remains unprepared to accept one.

“Iran is begging us, both directly and indirectly, ‘Let’s do a deal. Let’s talk,’” Rubio told reporters on the sidelines of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting of foreign ministers in Manila, Philippines, Thursday.

Rubio cautioned that Iran’s history of breaking or altering agreements makes it unlikely to be ready for a new deal, adding that the consequences are already visible and will likely worsen.

He described Iran as “a country run by radical clerics” who, in his view, are oblivious to the harsh economic reality the nation faces.

“Iran could be among the wealthiest in the Middle East if it chose to be. Instead it misuses its resources, funneling them to groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and other Shia militias,” Rubio criticized, highlighting Tehran’s support for proxy forces across the region.

When asked about Iranian officials describing their U.S. policy as “an eye for an eye,” Rubio contrasted it with what he said was Donald Trump’s “head for an eye” approach.

He warned that Iran is already paying a heavy price, citing alleged decimation of its industrial infrastructure and the resulting billions of dollars in damage.

Rubio emphasized that Washington’s primary goal remains a denuclearized Iran, warning that the existence of a nuclear-armed regime poses a global threat that U.S. policy will not tolerate.

He also denied that Russia is aiding Iran’s weapons programs and stated that Yemen’s Houthi movement had been pressured into targeting Saudi-linked shipping after a period of non-involvement. “I hope they’ll cease these actionsBones” he said.

Tit for Tat Will Continue

The United States signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iran last month, a pact Tehran claims Washington repeatedly violated. Both sides acknowledge the real agreement has effectively lapsed.

Over the past 12 nights, the U.S. has launched strikes aimed at degrading Iran’sized military capacity to strike vessels in regional waters. Tehran, however, asserts civilian infrastructure has been hit. A recent strike on the passenger terminal at the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iraq killed two individuals and injured others.

In response, Iran has targeted U.S. military assets across the Middle East.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei dismissed any U.S complex justification of infrastructure strikes, declaring that targeting bridges and power plants is unlawful reprisal and collective punishment under international humanitarian law.

He further argued that invoking superiors’ orders does not absolve perpetrators from criminal liability, citing the U.S. War Crimes Act and military legal codes that require personnel to refuse “manifestly unlawful” orders. Iran stands firm and resolute against lawlessness.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Zeidon Alkinani, founding director of the Arab Perspectives Institute, felt Iran is using rhetoric similar to Washington’s. “ Felipe, they also want a deal, and the Americans are not serious about one.” He added, “This indicates a tit‑for‑tat conflict will persist parallel to the actual warfare.”

Regarding the Houthis, Alkinani cited the group’s recent silence on Iran, suggesting that the Houthis may want to reassess their relationship. He implied Rubio’s comments might signal a U.S. willingness to negotiate directly with the Houthis, potentially creating an autonomous deal independent of Tehran.

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