Rubio says Iran ‘begging’ for a deal with US but not ready to make one - Al Jazeera

What the report says

Al Jazeera reported that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran is seeking negotiations with Washington to end the war but is not prepared to accept an agreement. Speaking to reporters on Thursday on the sidelines of an ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting in Manila, Rubio said Tehran had approached the US through direct and indirect channels, while arguing that Iranian leaders repeatedly fail to uphold or sustain deals.

Rubio said the Trump administration’s main goal remains preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He also warned that Iran would face escalating costs, describing US policy in harsher terms than the “eye for an eye” formulation used by Iranian officials. He claimed Iran’s industrial infrastructure was suffering major damage, and he accused Tehran of funding armed groups including Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis and Shia militias.

According to Al Jazeera, US strikes on Iran have continued for 12 consecutive nights, with Washington saying the operations are intended to reduce Iran’s ability to target vessels in regional waters. Tehran says civilian sites have been struck. The report said the latest attack hit the passenger terminal at the Shalamcheh crossing with Iraq, killing two people and injuring others. Iran has responded with attacks on US military assets in the Middle East.

Al Jazeera also reported that Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei rejected US justifications for hitting infrastructure, calling such attacks unlawful under international humanitarian law. Analyst Zeidon Alkinani told the outlet both sides appear to be using similar rhetoric while still wanting a deal, suggesting the cycle of retaliation may continue alongside the conflict.