Key facts
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Iran of using the Strait of Hormuz as leverage against the world.
- Rubio stated that maritime interdiction measures are specifically targeting Iranian shipping, not global commerce.
- He warned that any Iranian tolls on ships traversing the Strait of Hormuz would spread globally.
- Rubio urged other countries to contribute financially or with hardware to protect global shipping.
- A joint statement from the US and Gulf countries rejected any Iranian fees or restrictions on Strait of Hormuz transit.
- Rubio indicated that the US is open to a diplomatic solution with Iran.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has accused Iran of using the Strait of Hormuz as leverage amid ongoing regional conflict, urging other nations to contribute to protecting global shipping. Rubio stated that maritime interdiction measures are not aimed at global commerce but specifically at Iranian shipping, asserting that Iran cannot be the sole beneficiary of an 'illegal, unlawful, and unjustified system of tolling and control in the straits.'
During a trip to the Gulf, Rubio warned that any Iranian tolls on ships traversing the Strait of Hormuz would spread globally 'like a contagion,' emphasizing that international waterways do not belong to any single nation. Following a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting, the US and Gulf countries issued a joint statement rejecting any Iranian fees or restrictions on transit through the Strait of Hormuz. The statement also confirmed that trade with Tehran remains conditional on compliance with a US-Iran memorandum of understanding and a halt to 'destabilizing behavior.'
Rubio's visit aimed to reassure Gulf allies about a US-Iran interim deal intended to end their war, acknowledging their wariness of concessions that could strengthen Tehran and reshape regional security and oil flows. He assured leaders that the US would not undermine the security of its allies and that a reconstruction fund for Iran was not discussed during the trip. Rubio also indicated that the US is 'open to a diplomatic solution with Iran.'