Marco Rubio warns that Iran’s demand to control the Strait of Hormuz could set a dangerous precedent for global trade.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Asian leaders that Iran’s attempt to control and collect tolls in the Strait of Hormuz threatens the principle of freedom of navigation. Speaking at an ASEAN meeting in Manila, Rubio stated that if a nation state can unilaterally decide to control an international waterway and penalize ships that refuse to pay, it creates a dangerous precedent that could repeat in other parts of the world. The administration announced a series of strikes against Iran to degrade its ability to threaten commercial shipping. Rubio noted that while Iran is "begging" for a deal, it remains unprepared to accept one, leading to a "head for an eye" policy from President Trump. This approach aims to inflict heavy prices on Iran’s industrial and defense bases. Additionally, Rubio highlighted Iran’s support for terror proxies like the Houthis, who have launched a blockade on Saudi-linked vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

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