Rubio: U.S. open to diplomacy but Iran must change its behavior

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. is "always open to diplomacy" but that Iran must change its behavior and return to the negotiating table in good faith.

"It has to be real. It has to be a deal that they're willing to live by," he told reporters Sunday night as the U.S. carried out its ninth consecutive day of strikes aimed at degrading Iran's ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

The ceasefire agreement signed last month has unraveled over the past couple weeks, bringing both countries back to the brink of all-out war.

While the renewed hostilities initially centered on the strait, they have since escalated into a cycle of attacks and counterattacks that have killed at least three U.S. service members since Friday.

"As long as Iran insists on controlling an international waterway, we're going to have to respond to that," Secretary Rubio said. "Their behavior has to change in order for ours to change."

Secretary Rubio said Iran has signaled it wants to deescalate the conflict, but that divisions among the country's leadership are complicating negotiations.

"We're going to continue to respond," he said. "If the door opens to diplomacy, if the guys that want to do something productive for Iran win and take control of that system or take control of the negotiations, that'll be a very positive development. That's not where we are tonight, unfortunately."

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