Rubio Says Iran-Backed Houthis' Red Sea Blockade 'Problematic'
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Iran the "troublemaker" of the Gulf region and said any attempt by its Yemen proxy Houthi rebels to follow through on their threat to block shipping transit in the Red Sea would be "problematic."
"Anything that restricts shipping through the Red Sea would be problematic for the same reasons that the Strait of Hormuz is problematic," Rubio told reporters in the Philippines on July 22 where he was meeting with Asian foreign ministers.
The top US diplomat's comments came two days after the Iran-backed Houthis said they would impose a blockade on ships from Saudi Arabia, a key US ally and the world's biggest oil exporter, if they tried to pass through the Red Sea, a move that threatened to raise more pressure on global energy markets.
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Trump Threatens US Will Attack Bridge Or Power Plant For Each Ship Targeted in Strait
US President Donald Trump threatened on July 22 that Washington "will bomb and destroy" a bridge or power plant inside Iran, including in the capital, each time Tehran targets a ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
"From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
Trump's statement came as shipping in the Strait of Hormuz remained disrupted amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, with Tehran and Washington exchanging air attacks.
It is not the first time the US president has ratcheted up pressure on Tehran over its interference with vessel transit in the crucial waterway. The White House has repeatedly said the substantial negotiations between the countries to end the conflict cannot move forward while Iran threatens traffic in the strait.
Rubio Says Iran-Backed Houthis' Red Sea Blockade 'Problematic'
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Iran the "troublemaker" of the Gulf region and said any attempt by its Yemen proxy Houthi rebels to follow through on their threat to block shipping transit in the Red Sea would be "problematic."
"Anything that restricts shipping through the Red Sea would be problematic for the same reasons that the Strait of Hormuz is problematic," Rubio told reporters in the Philippines on July 22 where he was meeting with Asian foreign ministers.
The top US diplomat's comments came two days after the Iran-backed Houthis said they would impose a blockade on ships from Saudi Arabia, a key US ally and the world's biggest oil exporter, if they tried to pass through the Red Sea, a move that threatened to raise more pressure on global energy markets.
To read the full report, click here.
Bahrain Says Iran Attacks Are 'Criminal'
Bahrain said on July 22 that its military forces had intercepted Iran's "criminal" attacks on the country, adding that all of its air defense systems remained "fully prepared" for further defensive operations.
"The deliberate use of missiles and unmanned aircraft to target civilians and private property constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law," Bahrain's Defense Forces said in a statement published on X.
The development came as the war in the Middle East had escalated over the past week, with US forces targeting Iran's southern and western regions and Tehran attacking US sites in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan.
Earlier in the day, the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had "successfully completed" an 11th consecutive night of strikes, targeting "Iranian operations centers, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and military logistics infrastructure."
Iran, for its part, confirmed that it had attacked Jordan and Kuwait.
Rubio Says China Has Done Nothing To Change Trajectory of Iran War
- By Colin Hood
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that “nothing China has done has changed the trajectory” of the conflict in the Middle East during a meeting with Beijing’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, on July 22.
The two met on the sidelines of this year’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Manila.
Rubio added that in some ways “China has been cooperative in Iran.”
US President Donald Trump had previously praised Chinese leader Xi Jinping for “not getting involved” in the war during the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8, where he also said that the peace agreement between Washington and Tehran was “over.”
China has attempted to mediate the conflict from afar via close ally Pakistan since the start of the war. Wang Yi thanked Islamabad for its “indispensable role” in coordinating peace efforts during a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, on July 16.
He added that Beijing will "continue to play a constructive role" to de-escalate the conflict.
Wang has spoken with authorities from countries affected by the war in the Middle East over 30 times.
The US has previously targeted China’s independent “teapot” oil refineries for continuing to buy Iranian oil since the war began on February 28.
The US Treasury Department sanctioned Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery, the second largest “teapot” refinery, on April 24 for playing “an outsized role in purchasing crude oil from Iran's armed forces.”
Jordan Says It Intercepted Iranian Missiles Over Its Territory
Jordan's military said six Iranian missiles entered the kingdom's airspace on July 22, with air defenses intercepting four and the remaining two crashing in remote areas without causing casualties or damage, the Petra state news agency reported.
Separately, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said that they had targeted Prince Hassan Air Base and King Faisal Air Base in Jordan, according to Iran's state news agency.
Videos posted online showed smoke rising near the southern port city of Aqaba.
Jordan, a key US ally that hosts American troops and aircraft, has so far come under fewer reported Iranian attacks than Persian Gulf states, such as Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
With reporting by dpa and Reuters
Rubio Says Iran Not Serious About Diplomacy, Warns ASEAN On Hormuz Threat
MANILA -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that Iran's challenge to freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz threatened not only global trade but also risked setting a dangerous precedent for Asia's contested maritime routes.
Addressing foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Manila on July 22, Rubio said that the US remains prepared to negotiate with Iran but accused Tehran of failing to honor previous commitments and lacking seriousness about diplomacy.
“The United States is always committed to diplomacy," Rubio said on July 22. "We're open-minded and always willing to engage and negotiate settlements and differences, and that remains true in the case of Iran.”
“The problem we're having right now is that they're not serious about talks. If they're serious, we're serious,” he added. “If they're not, then we will do what is necessary to protect our interests and also the interests of our allies.”
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Hegseth Says Iran War Cost Estimated at $37.5 Billion
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the US Congress that the war with Iran has cost the United States an estimated $37.5 billion so far, up from nearly $29 billion in mid-May, as he defended the Pentagon's request for about $67 billion in supplemental funding.
Testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee on July 21, Hegseth and General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the funding was "urgent" and "necessary" to cover military operations through the end of September.
Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen questioned the request, saying the Pentagon still had $75 billion in unspent funding and asking why it was seeking additional money "instead of asking for transfer authority."
Hegseth replied the funds were "otherwise allocated" for priorities including the "Golden Dome for America" missile defense project.
Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers also pressed the administration for greater clarity on its strategy in the Middle East.
With reporting by AFP
Iran Says It Carried Out Drone Attack on US Base In Kuwait
The Iranian Army claimed in a statement on July 22 that it had carried out an attack on a US base in Kuwait.
The army's public relations office said that it "launched a drone strike hours ago against ammunition depots and logistical equipment at the headquarters of the US Army's ground forces at Camp Doha, located in western Kuwait in retaliation for the continued US attacks on Iran."
There was no immediate comment from the US military on the Iranian claim.
US Says 11th Consecutive Night Of Strikes Targets Iranian Military Infrastructure
The US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) said it "successfully completed" an 11th consecutive night of strikes on July 21, targeting "Iranian operations centers, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities and military logistics infrastructure."
CENTCOM said the strikes were intended to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz after more than 30 attacks on merchant vessels over the past three months.
It said the waterway remained open and reiterated its assertion that US forces had helped facilitate the transit of about 900 commercial ships and 450 barrels of crude oil through the strait since early May.
Trump Calls Iranian Officials 'Savages' After Latest Executions Of Protesters
- By RFE/RL
President Donald Trump condemned Iran's leadership after the execution of two protesters over the weekend, calling officials "savages" amid a widening crackdown on dissent during the war with the United States.
Iran's judiciary announced on July 19 that two men were executed over their alleged involvement in violence linked to anti-government protests that began in December and intensified in January amid widespread economic discontent.
Trump reposted several messages on his Truth Social platform about the executions of Erfan Esfandiari and Gol Mohammad Mohammadi, including one where he reposted a message about Mohammadi's execution while adding: "The latest one of 52,000, plus, innocent protesters. Savages!!!"
Trump's claim that 52,000 protesters were killed by authorities in the uprising early this year, has not been independently verified.
According to human rights groups, at least 7,000 people were killed during the nationwide protests, although the real death toll is believed to be significantly higher.
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