The Marco Rubio Iran US deal story broke on Thursday, July 23, 2026. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran is privately asking the United States for a deal to end the war. But Rubio said Tehran is still not "ready" to accept one. He made these remarks to reporters at an ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Manila, Philippines. The Iran deal news has given the world a rare look inside the secret back-channel talks between Washington and Tehran.Key HighlightsRubio said Iran is privately pressing Washington for a deal both directly and indirectlyHe said the problem is Iran keeps breaking deals or trying to change them after signingRubio described Trump's approach to Iran as "a head for an eye" rather than "an eye for an eye"He claimed Iran's industrial infrastructure is being "decimated" with billions of dollars in damage from US strikesWhat Rubio Said in ManilaRubio gave a very blunt picture of the US Iran relations situation in his Manila statement. He said Iran wants to talk but is not serious about making a real deal.He told reporters clearly:"Iran is begging us, both directly and indirectly, 'Let's do a deal. Let's talk.' The problem with Iran is every time they make a deal, the people in charge either break it or they want to change it. So it looks like they're not ready to make a deal, so they're going to continue to pay a price, and every night the price gets higher and higher."Rubio's Strong Words on IranThe Marco Rubio statement did not stop there. He called Iran "a country run by radical clerics" and said its leaders were "oblivious" to its own economic problems.On Iran's money and spending, Rubio said:"Iran can be the richest country in the Middle East if they wanted to be. But instead, they take their money and they give it to Hezbollah. They give it to Hamas. They give it to the Houthis. They give it to Shia militias. They give it to sponsored terrorism all over the world."Trump's "Head for an Eye" ApproachWhen asked about Iran's "eye for an eye" military policy, Rubio made it very clear that the US under Trump was not playing by the same rules in these Iran nuclear talks and broader negotiations.Rubio said Trump's approach was simply:"A head for an eye."He warned that Iran will pay a very heavy price for everything it is doing and said it is already paying that price right now as US strikes continue to destroy its military and industrial infrastructure every night.Also Read : Mysterious Iran Strait of Hormuz Warning: 'No Oil for Anyone' Threat Sparks Global Alarm
