Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a defiant assessment of the ongoing standoff with Iran, telling reporters on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila that Tehran is "begging us, both directly and indirectly, let's do a deal, let's talk," but has yet to follow through with any serious commitment. Rubio said Iran is "begging every day," even as U.S. strikes on Iranian military targets continue for a twelfth straight night. He placed the blame squarely on Tehran's leadership, arguing that "every time they make a deal, the people that are in charge there either break it or want to change it," a pattern he said has left Washington with little reason to trust any new overture.

Rubio also addressed the widening conflict at sea, noting that Iran has pulled the Houthis deeper into the fight after the Yemeni group had largely stayed on the sidelines for much of the war. Asked about recent Houthi attacks on Saudi-linked oil tankers in the Red Sea, Rubio said the group appears to have been "snookered" by Tehran into targeting shipping tied to Saudi Arabia, adding simply, "we will see what happens." His comments leave open the possibility of further escalation on a new front even as the administration continues to press Iran over its refusal to strike a durable deal on the Strait of Hormuz and its broader nuclear ambitions.