Michelle Kellerman

Secretary Rubio says before the U.S.

lifts its blockade of Iranian ports, the Iranians need to stop firing on commercial vessels and let traffic resume.

Democratic Senator Christopher Murphy pressed him on that, pointing out that the Strait was open before the U.S.

and Israel launched the war against Iran.

And Rubio says U.S.

sanctions won't be eased until Iran gets to the next step, negotiating over its nuclear program.

Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

Secretary Rubio says before the U.S.

lifts its blockade of Iranian ports, the Iranians need to stop firing on commercial vessels and let traffic resume.

Democratic Senator Christopher Murphy pressed him on that, pointing out that the Strait was open before the U.S.

and Israel launched the war against Iran.

And Rubio says U.S.

sanctions won't be eased until Iran gets to the next step, negotiating over its nuclear program.

Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

Russia recently urged the U.S.

and European countries to evacuate embassies in Ukraine ahead of a planned Russian assault.

The deputy U.S.

ambassador to the U.N., Tammy Bruce, had a message to her Russian counterpart about that, reminding Russia of its legal obligations to protect diplomatic facilities.

And she calls recent strikes on Kyiv, quote, an inexplicable, dangerous, and barbaric escalation.

Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.