JULY 22, 2026
Rubio warns ASEAN leaders about Iran's Strait of Hormuz demands while keeping door open to negotiations
Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the ASEAN Summit in Manila, Philippines on Wednesday, warning that Iran's demand to control and collect tolls in the Strait of Hormuz would set a dangerous international precedent and threaten the global economy. Rubio stated the U.S. remains willing to negotiate with Iran but questioned whether Tehran is engaging in good faith. His remarks came as U.S. forces had completed their 11th consecutive night of strikes against Iranian military targets and the two countries had passed the halfway point of a 60-day negotiating window established under a June 17 memorandum of understanding.
Speaking at the annual ASEAN ministerial gathering in Manila, Rubio told foreign ministers from Southeast Asia and other nations that Iran's push to control shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could not be allowed to stand. "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," Rubio said, according to both AP and Reuters.
Rubio stated that Iran had been "reaching out to the United States, both directly and indirectly, to engage in talks," but he gave no indication the U.S. was prepared to return to formal peace negotiations, the AP reported. He said Iran has reneged on commitments made under the June 17 memorandum of understanding, and framed U.S. military strikes as a direct consequence of that breach. "The United States remains open and willing to engage in positive negotiations and talks so long as the commitments that are made are kept," Rubio said. "When those commitments are not kept, which is what's happened in this particular case, then there will be consequences."
The context for Rubio's remarks was stark: Asian markets imported approximately 80% of crude oil and nearly 90% of the liquefied natural gas transiting through the Strait of Hormuz in 2025, according to the International Energy Agency, which the AP cited as describing the crisis a "stark wake-up call" for the region's energy security. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong called for a ceasefire and said "the situation could deteriorate further without much warning." Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, also present in Manila, said Moscow wants a quick settlement, citing the conflict's effect on global energy prices.