According to a report by Al Jazeera on July 23, 2026, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran is seeking an agreement but questioned the country’s commitment to negotiations during remarks on the sidelines of the ASEAN conference in Manila.
Addressing reporters, Rubio said, “Iran is begging for a deal.” He added, “It looks like Iran is not ready to make a deal, they will pay the price.”
Rubio maintained that the United States remains doubtful about Iran’s willingness to follow through on any future agreement. He argued that previous negotiations had failed because Tehran did not uphold its commitments after reaching understandings with other parties.
Speaking further, the US secretary of state accused Iran of repeatedly abandoning agreements or changing their terms after they had been concluded. “Every time they make a deal, they either break it or change it,” Rubio told journalists during the news conference.
His comments came as regional leaders and international officials gathered in Manila for meetings linked to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The conference has brought together diplomats to discuss key security, political and economic issues affecting the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
Rubio’s remarks added to the ongoing tension between Washington and Tehran, with negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme and broader regional concerns remaining unresolved….See More