US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on July 22 that the United States remains open to negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing crisis with Iran, but expressed skepticism about Tehran’s commitment to diplomacy. Rubio’s remarks came during a meeting with Southeast Asian foreign ministers in Manila, a day after three oil tankers carrying Saudi crude reversed course in the Red Sea amid threats from Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels.
The Houthis, who control strategic parts of the Red Sea coastline near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, announced a naval blockade targeting Saudi Arabia on July 20. This development threatens to disrupt a vital route for global oil shipments, as the Red Sea serves as a key alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has also threatened. The conflict’s expansion risks further destabilizing global energy markets, as Saudi Arabia is a major crude oil exporter, with much of its supply destined for Asian countries.
Iran reportedly received a mediator’s proposal on July 20 for a 10-day ceasefire intended to preserve the interim ceasefire agreement signed between the US and Iran in June. This accord had succeeded an earlier ceasefire reached in April. Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni recently visited Pakistan, a key mediator, urging continued diplomatic efforts. Nonetheless, Rubio questioned Tehran’s sincerity, stating that while Washington remains committed to dialogue, it will act to defend US and allied interests if Iran does not engage seriously.
Rubio warned against allowing Iran to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf’s principal maritime chokepoint. He noted that such a precedent, where a state imposes tolls or threatens shipping in an international waterway, could have serious repercussions globally, including in Southeast Asia where territorial disputes persist in the South China Sea.
Escalating tensions have led to continued US military operations targeting Iranian sites. On July 21, the US conducted air strikes across Iran for the eighth consecutive night, hitting multiple locations including Bushehr province, where Iran’s sole nuclear power plant is located. Iranian officials reported attacks on an electricity post near the facility. Iran’s military responded with drone strikes targeting US military installations in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain on July 22, claiming damage to accommodation and equipment storage facilities at bases in those countries, though these claims could not be independently verified.
US President Donald Trump confirmed that 18 US service members have died since the conflict intensified, including four killed in recent Iranian attacks on US bases in Jordan and Iraq. Trump also reiterated threats to retaliate if the Houthis block the Bab el-Mandeb strait, emphasizing that no full closure has occurred yet.
Following the Houthi threats, oil prices rose sharply, with Brent crude trading above $91 per barrel and US gasoline prices exceeding $4 per gallon. The Houthis warned on July 21 that they would attack ships loading or unloading Saudi oil in the Red Sea. In response to these risks, some tankers diverted toward the Suez Canal rather than passing near Houthi-controlled areas.
Saudi Arabia has partially mitigated shipping disruptions by moving oil through pipelines to Yanbu on the Red Sea. However, a complete blockade by the Houthis would severely limit Saudi oil exports and potentially reduce global supply. Meanwhile, President Trump renewed threats to strike Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility “pretty soon,” referencing previous US attacks in June 2025 that reportedly damaged the site. Iran has pledged retaliation, and Iranian health officials reported that recent US strikes have killed 50 civilians and injured 500 others.