Rubio: Washington Does Not Want to See Additional Flashpoints in the West Bank

Al-Taj News – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that the United States does not want to see additional flashpoints in the occupied West Bank, stressing that the world does not need another crisis in the West Bank.

Rubio told reporters that the best solution to the crisis in the Gaza Strip is for Gaza to be free of Hamas and governed by Palestinian leadership that reflects the will of its residents.

He noted that turning the West Bank into a crisis is the last thing Israel and the region need.

Regarding Iran, Rubio said reaching an agreement with it would require continuous work over a period of time, noting that the talks held Tuesday were largely just an exchange of ideas and messages.

He added that the final decision in Iran lies in the hands of people who believe in the revolution, making it difficult to deal with them, noting that Iran was the one that violated the memorandum of understanding and attacked its neighbors.

Rubio said US President Donald Trump will not leave the Iran crisis unresolved and is committed to ensuring that the solution is sustainable, rather than lasting for the next five years, noting that Trump has a number of options available, including military options.

He stressed that the United States will continue to defend the maritime straits and keep them open, noting that the southern passage of the Strait of Hormuz is open, and that there is consensus with the Gulf states on the need for the straits to remain open and free from any attack.

He said that Iran’s proxies in the region threaten the security and sovereignty of their countries, and that the United States will always act in accordance with its national interest and will not place the international system above its interests.

On Yemen, Rubio said there is consensus that what is happening with the Houthis and in Yemen represents a very serious problem.

Regarding the Russian-Ukrainian file, Rubio said Russia and Ukraine had expressed interest in a limited ceasefire covering grain and energy, noting that the war in Ukraine will not end on the battlefield but through a negotiated settlement.