U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that the U.S. government is maintaining a strict policy toward Iran during an ASEAN meeting [1].
The remarks signal a hardening of U.S. foreign policy during an ongoing conflict, emphasizing that the U.S. will not concede to Iranian demands regarding critical global shipping lanes.
Rubio spoke at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting in Manila, Philippines, where he addressed the implications of the Iran-related war [1, 2]. He said the policy of President Donald Trump toward Iran is "head for an eye" [1].
A central point of the secretary's address focused on the Strait of Hormuz. Rubio said that Iran's demand to control and collect tolls in the Strait of Hormuz would threaten the world's economy and set a precedent that could be repeated elsewhere in the world [2].
Beyond the economic warnings, Rubio addressed the broader regional conflict. He said the Houthis should stay out of the conflict to prevent further escalation [1, 3].
Rubio said that the U.S. intends to maintain pressure on the Iranian government. He said that the price Iran is paying will continue to rise until they come to their senses [3].
The secretary's presence at the ASEAN summit underscores the effort to align Southeast Asian partners with U.S. security interests as the conflict rages [1, 2].
“"head for an eye."”
The U.S. is leveraging the ASEAN summit to build a diplomatic coalition against Iranian influence in maritime corridors. By framing the Strait of Hormuz as a global economic vulnerability rather than a bilateral dispute, the U.S. aims to internationalize the cost of Iranian aggression and discourage regional proxies, such as the Houthis, from expanding the theater of war.
