US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday the United States remains open to diplomacy with Iran, but any deal must be "real" and verifiable. He noted Iran attacked three ships last week instead of guaranteeing safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, stating Iranian behavior must change first.

Rubio described a "growing split" in Iran between militant extremists and those focused on the economy. He argued Iran funnels funds to proxy groups—Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iraqi militias—rather than investing in its own people, saying "Every penny that this regime there gets... they invested in Hezbollah."

While Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz, Rubio said US forces are "providing the service of protecting these ships on behalf of the world." President Donald Trump wants other nations to contribute financially to this effort, calling Iran's control of the international waterway "completely illegal, unlawful, and unacceptable."