At the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meeting in the Philippines on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said US remained committed to diplomacy, but accused Iran of violating the agreement over the Strait of Hormuz. “The problem we’re having right now is that they’re not serious about talks,” he said. “If they’re serious, we’re serious. If they’re not, then we will do what is necessary to protect our interests and also the interests of our allies.” Analysts believe this statement has once again sparked concerns on how the geopolitical tensions and oil prices could unfold going forward.
