U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington, despite completing the ninth consecutive night of military attacks on Iran, continues to welcome a diplomatic solution and will continue efforts to negotiate with the Islamic Republic.

He emphasized that the United States’ military response relates to Tehran’s actions, not its messages about a willingness to negotiate.

Rubio accused the Islamic Republic of firing missiles and drones at ships and creating obstacles to navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and said that Tehran, by violating the provisions of the memorandum of understanding from the month of Khordad, cannot expect this agreement to remain valid.

The U.S. foreign minister said the Islamic Republic continues to send messages about its willingness to talk, but Washington will base its decision-making on Tehran’s practical actions. He added that if the path to negotiations is opened, the United States will welcome it.

In response to a question about the consequences of a failure of diplomacy, Rubio warned that the outcome of such a situation would not be desirable for the Islamic Republic, and, referring to Iran’s economic conditions, said the country’s economy is in a state of disorder.