Iran Reportedly Sent The U.S. a Ceasefire Proposal. Marco Rubio Says Tehran Is ‘Not Serious’ About Talks

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. continues to be committed to pursuing diplomatic ways to end the war in Iran, but claimed Tehran is "not serious about talks."

Speaking during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting in the Philippines on Wednesday, Rubio claimed that if Iran "is serious, we're serious," and "if they're not, then we will do what is necessary to protect our interests and also the interests of our allies."

He went on to say that navigation through the Strait of Hormuz continues to be a sticking point in talks and that Iran "demands the right" to control it. Allowing that to happen would set a "very dangerous precedent" for the world, Rubio said.

Iran has been threatening ships not passing through the route it has approved of, striking those seeking to do so closer to the Omani side. The U.S., in turn, has been providing assistance to some crossing despite the threats.

Oil prices continued to rise in the meantime. Brent crude, the international benchmark, gained 3.79% and clocked in at $94.95 per barrel at 7:48 a.m. ET, while West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. benchmark, jumped 3.50% and stood at $87.29 at the same time.

President Donald Trump appeared to confirm that Iran is seeking to resume negotiations, telling press in the Oval Office on Tuesday that Tehran officials "want to meet desperately to try and end it because they're getting decimated." He went on to say the country is "not finished" in Iran.

Washington is reportedly preparing for both escalation and negotiation. It has told Israel to refrain from taking any action that could derail any chance for de-escalation, but has been making plans for the opposite scenario at the same time.

In the meantime, the U.S. Central Command said in a social media publication it conducted an 11th night of strikes against Iran, targeting "military operations centers, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and military logistics infrastructure to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz."

CENTCOM added that, over the past three months, "Iran has attacked more than 30 commercial vessels transiting the international waterway vital for regional and global trade. The unwarranted attacks have endangered hundreds of innocent mariners and undermined freedom of navigation."

"Despite Iranian aggression, the Strait of Hormuz remains open for commercial vessel transit. Since early May, CENTCOM forces have helped facilitate the transit of approximately 900 commercial vessels and 450 million barrels of crude oil," the publication said.