Manila, July 23 (SANA)U.S. Secretary of StateMarco Rubiosaid on Thursday that Iran is not ready to reach an agreement with Washington, warning that theUnited Stateswould continue to increase pressure onTehranwhile expressing hope that Yemen’s Houthi militia would halt attacks in the region.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila, Rubio said the United States had honored its commitments regarding a potential agreement with Iran. He added that President Donald Trump’s policy is based on the principle of “an eye for an eye” and warned that Iran would “pay a heavy price” if the current situation persists.

Rubio accused Iran of drawing the Houthis into the conflict, saying Tehran remained under significant pressure despite its “boastful rhetoric.”

OnUkraine, Rubio said he had held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and reiterated that “the bloody war in Ukraine must end.”

Turning to U.S.-Chinarelations, Rubio said he was optimistic that Chinese President Xi Jinping could visit the United States in September, describing such a trip as potentially “very positive” for bilateral ties.

Following talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Manila, Rubio said the two sides discussed preparations for a possible meeting between the U.S. and Chinese presidents, managing bilateral differences and other issues of mutual interest.

He said competition between Washington and Beijing would continue but stressed the importance of managing differences in a way that prevents further escalation.