Washington DC, May 21 (ANI) — Republican Senator Marco Rubio issued a strong warning against Tehran’s recent maritime moves, saying the United States will not accept any attempt by Iran to control or monetise passage through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Rubio’s remarks follow reports that Iran is exploring a permanent toll arrangement with Oman for vessels transiting the strait. In an interview with Fox News, he criticised Tehran’s efforts to regulate ship movements through the key maritime corridor and argued that the international community must resist any effort to make Iran the arbiter of who may use the waterway.
“If what they mean by opening the Straits is ‘Yes, the straits are open as long as you coordinate with Iran. Get our permission, or we’ll blow you up and pay us.’ That’s not opening the Strait,” Rubio said. “They cannot normalise, nor can we tolerate them trying to normalise, a system in which the Iranians decide who gets to use an international waterway and how much you have to pay them to use it.”
The comments come amid rising tensions in the Gulf after reports that Iran has imposed transit fees on vessels using the Strait of Hormuz. The channel is a vital energy artery, carrying roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. Iranian state media has said revenues from the new fees have already been deposited into the country’s central bank accounts.
Tehran is reportedly in talks with Oman to formalise oversight of maritime traffic through the strait, a move that has alarmed other countries that view freedom of navigation as a core principle of international law.
Global leaders have expressed concern about the situation. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump emphasised the urgent need to restore normal shipping operations through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that sustained disruptions could have severe consequences for global energy markets and the wider economy.
(ANI) (This item is from a syndicated feed and is published as received.)
