US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that Iran will continue to face pressure from Washington as military hostilities between the two sides intensify around the Strait of Hormuz. Rubio said the United States would continue targeting Iranian capabilities that Washington considers threats to American forces and international shipping.
His comments came as the latest escalation pushed the conflict into another dangerous phase, with the US conducting strikes against Iranian targets and Iran retaliating against American interests in the region.
The renewed confrontation has also raised fresh concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a major global energy shipping route. Reuters reported on Wednesday that shipping traffic through the waterway had fallen sharply, while oil prices moved higher amid fears of further supply disruptions.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Marco Rubio Says Iran Will ‘Continue To Feel The Squeeze’
Rubio said Washington’s central objective remains preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Speaking in an interview aired by Fox News on Wednesday, Rubio said the United States would maintain pressure on Tehran until it abandons ambitions to develop nuclear weapons and ends its support for what Washington describes as terrorism in the Middle East and beyond.
“The core and central issue is in the end that Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon,” Rubio said.
He also argued that Iran needs money to pursue its nuclear ambitions and support militant groups, according to the interview. The remarks underline the Trump administration’s continued emphasis on economic and military pressure rather than easing restrictions on Tehran.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: US Says It Will Target Threats Around Strait Of Hormuz
Rubio also addressed the situation around the Strait of Hormuz, saying Iranian attacks or activity threatening American forces and commercial shipping could trigger further US military action.
“They keep shooting at things,” Rubio said, adding that the US would continue to target capabilities it considers a threat to US troops and international shipping.
The comments come as maritime traffic through the strategic waterway remains under severe pressure. Reuters reported that only four commodity vessels crossed the Strait on Tuesday, compared with a 10-day average of around 13, according to preliminary Kpler data.
The Strait is particularly important for global energy markets because of the large volume of oil and LNG normally transported through it.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Trump Floats ‘Trump Strait’ Name For Hormuz
US President Donald Trump separately suggested renaming the Strait of Hormuz as the “Trump Strait”, claiming that the waterway was under US control.
Trump made the suggestion on his Truth Social platform, saying the renamed waterway would be “hotter” than ever.
The proposal comes amid an increasingly tense dispute over control and freedom of navigation in the waterway. Trump had previously claimed that the United States had “total control” of the Strait, while the conflict has continued to disrupt maritime traffic.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Iran-US Conflict Puts Global Energy Markets On Alert
The latest military escalation is already being reflected in energy markets. Reuters reported that Brent crude rose on Wednesday as traders assessed the potential impact of the renewed US-Iran fighting on oil supplies. Brent was reported at around $94.90 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate stood near $90.32. Prices fluctuated significantly during the trading session.
The disruption around Hormuz is particularly significant for Asian energy consumers. Reuters also reported that LNG cargoes from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates were being transferred between vessels outside the Strait to keep supplies moving toward destinations including India and Japan.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Pakistan Calls For Dialogue And Diplomacy
Amid the renewed escalation, Pakistan said it remained hopeful that peace could still be achieved in West Asia.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Islamabad continued to support restraint, dialogue and diplomacy. His comments followed a meeting between Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.
Pakistan has stressed diplomatic engagement as the preferred route toward regional stability, even as the US-Iran confrontation continues to escalate.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Iran’s Araghchi Meets Senior Hamas Official
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also met Basem Naim, a senior member of Hamas’ political bureau, in Tehran on Wednesday, according to Iranian state media. The meeting comes as the broader regional conflict remains closely connected to multiple fronts across the Middle East.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Iran Arrests 11 Foreign Nationals Over Fuel-Smuggling Allegations
Separately, Iranian state television reported that authorities had detained 11 foreign nationals accused of attempting to smuggle fuel out of the country.
The arrests reportedly took place in southern Iran as the country faces fuel shortages and difficulties importing supplies amid the ongoing pressure on its ports and maritime trade. Iranian state media did not specify the nationalities of those detained.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: What Happens Next In The US-Israel-Iran War?
The immediate focus remains on whether the latest exchange of attacks develops into a wider confrontation.
For Washington, Rubio’s comments suggest that pressure on Tehran will continue, particularly over Iran’s nuclear programme and activities around the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, reduced shipping through Hormuz and higher oil prices highlight the potential economic consequences of prolonged disruption.
Reuters reported that the Trump administration is seeking to emphasise economic pressure on Iran even as military exchanges continue, while the conflict has created growing risks for energy markets and regional security. For now, the situation remains fluid, with further military action, shipping disruptions and diplomatic efforts likely to shape the next phase of the conflict.
