00:00U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the United States is still willing to negotiate
00:05an end to the Iran crisis, but Tehran is not serious about talks.
00:09This as the widening conflict disrupted two of the world's most critical energy choke points.
00:14Rubio makes his comments in a meeting of Southeast Asian foreign ministers,
00:18a day after three oil tankers carrying Saudi crude to Asia reversed course in the Red Sea.
00:23This apparently in response to threats from Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis.
00:27The problem we're having right now is that they're not serious about talks.
00:31If they're serious, we're serious. If they're not,
00:33then we will do what is necessary to protect our interests and also the interests of our allies.
00:38The Houthis, who control the coast at the mouth of the Red Sea,
00:41announced a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia on Monday.
00:44With Iran threatening shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,
00:46the Red Sea has become Saudi Arabia's main alternative route for millions of barrels of oil exports each day.
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