US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that Washington is taking Iranian threats against American interests around the world extremely seriously, saying any attack would carry consequences.
Speaking to Fox News, Rubio said Tehran had threatened to target US interests internationally, raising concerns about further escalation as Washington and Iran remain locked in a military confrontation.
He warned that any attack on American personnel or interests would trigger a response, although he did not specify what measures Washington might take.
Rubio said the United States’ dispute was with Iran’s leadership rather than the Iranian people, accusing Tehran of seeking to use its military arsenal to threaten neighbouring countries and American forces while pursuing nuclear weapons capabilities.
He argued that a nuclear-armed Iran could use its position near the Strait of Hormuz to exert greater pressure on international shipping, potentially closing the strategic waterway and imposing transit fees on countries dependent on the route.
The US secretary of state also said the Strait of Hormuz was now open, with oil shipments approaching levels recorded before the conflict.
The waterway has been a major flashpoint in the confrontation between Washington and Tehran, with disruptions to maritime traffic affecting global energy markets. Regional crude exports have recovered in September but remain below pre-war levels, according to shipping data reported by Reuters.
Diplomatic efforts continue despite tensions
Rubio’s warning comes as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict continue through regional intermediaries.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a Qatari mediator had held fresh discussions with Iranian officials in New York, presenting proposals aimed at addressing Tehran’s conditions for further engagement with Washington.
According to Araghchi, the discussions focused on how Iran’s demands could be met and what steps would be necessary to create a basis for further negotiations.
He said the Qatari mediator would present the proposals to American officials before communicating Washington’s response to Tehran.
The latest diplomatic contacts follow renewed efforts to end the war, with the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions relief and nuclear restrictions among the central issues separating the two sides.
Reuters reported on September 28 that American and Iranian officials had engaged separately with mediators in another attempt to reach an agreement. Tehran has linked the full reopening of the strategic waterway to progress on its conditions for a settlement.
