DUBAI/MANILA: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday the United States is still willing to negotiate an end to the Iran crisis but Tehran is not serious about talks, as the widening conflict disrupted two of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints. Rubio made his comments in a meeting of Southeast Asian foreign ministers after Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis claimed a naval blockade has been imposed on the Red Sea mainly against Saudi Arabia.

Rubio also stated that there was a "growing split" in Iran between the more militant extremists who continue to attack the US and other countries and those who are concerned with…

Marco Rubio says U.S. remains open to Iran diplomacy, warns Tehran's actions in Hormuz risk deeper conflict and retaliation.