Rubio Sets ‘Head for an Eye’ Doctrine as US and Iran Trade Threats over Hormuz
The US Secretary of State declared Iran unprepared for a deal while Paris condemned the ‘premeditated’ detention of its diplomats, as military strikes and oil market jitters intensified.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting in Manila, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that Washington’s policy towards Tehran is now one of “head for an eye,” directly countering Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s earlier description of the Islamic Republic’s defence doctrine as “eye for an eye.” Rubio asserted that Iran is “clearly not ready for a deal—at least not one it is willing to live by,” and warned that the cost Tehran pays “will increase every night until they come to their senses.” The exchange followed a threat by President Donald Trump to destroy a bridge or power plant in Iran for each attack on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, and came as French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described the recent detention of two French diplomats in Tehran as a “very serious and premeditated attack” that “will not go unanswered.”
Viewed from Washington, the hardening rhetoric reflects a conviction that a previous understanding with Iran on free navigation in the strait has collapsed. Rubio claimed that on the day Iran was due to issue a statement reaffirming that understanding, it instead attacked a vessel. US Central Command confirmed that for a twelfth consecutive night it had struck military targets inside Iran, including naval assets, missile and drone storage, coastal monitoring sites and air-defence systems. The US has, according to regional media reports, informed intermediaries such as Pakistan that it will not agree to a ceasefire until a new framework is in place that guarantees the “military neutralisation” of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps offensive capabilities around the Strait of Hormuz. In parallel, Rubio defended a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, arguing it is “logical” for Riyadh to pursue enrichment with the United States rather than another country, and confirmed the deal would be submitted to Congress.
From Tehran, Araghchi used social media to warn that any party supporting a military campaign against Iran would be considered a “legitimate target,” while the IRGC threatened “regret-inducing operations” that would lead to “public mourning in America” if strikes continue. The Houthi movement, which Western and regional capitals view as an Iranian ally, signalled it could open a new front, contributing to a 3.9 per cent jump in Brent crude prices to near $98 per barrel—the highest level since early June, according to market data cited by CNN. Rubio expressed hope the Houthis would de-escalate, saying they had been “deceived by Iran” and were now in a difficult position.
Diplomatic channels remain formally open, but Rubio assessed that President Trump sees “little benefit in responding to their overtures at this stage.” The French government, having secured the return of its diplomats, is examining all options for a response. With the US-Saudi nuclear text heading to Capitol Hill and CENTCOM strikes continuing, the dossier remains locked in a cycle of military pressure and conditional diplomacy, with no visible path to a ceasefire absent a new arrangement for the strategic waterway.
| Iranian & allied press | −0.80 | critical |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic / Anglosphere press | 0.00 | neutral |
| Arab Gulf press | +0.30 | aligned |
Iran denounces the American threat and asserts its right to proportional defense.
By reversing the roles of aggressor and victim, the Iranian narrative turns American threats into evidence of its own legitimate resistance.
The Iranian narrative omits the context of Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which prompted the American response.
The United States reaffirms its determination to protect navigation and prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, justifying the 'head for an eye' doctrine as necessary deterrence.
The Atlantic narrative legitimizes the American threat by presenting it as a proportional response to a series of Iranian provocations, creating a causal chain that justifies escalation.
The Atlantic narrative omits reference to the Islamabad agreement allegedly violated by the US according to the Iranian perspective, and does not mention Tehran's defensive 'eye for an eye' doctrine as an alternative.
The Gulf countries support the American hardline against Iran, presenting Tehran as a desperate and unreliable actor deserving a firm response.
The Gulf narrative uses the repetition of the term 'begging' to humiliate Iran and legitimize the American position as that of a magnanimous but firm power.
The Gulf narrative omits the Iranian perspective on agreement violations and does not mention the arrest of French diplomats, focusing only on Tehran's weakness.
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