The United States has made it plain that it will not accept any single country's claim over the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to reporters in the Bahraini capital of Manama, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio brushed aside Iran's hardening stance on the vital waterway, saying Hormuz cannot be treated as the property of one nation-state.
On Iran's intention to collect fees from vessels passing through Hormuz, Rubio called the whole row nothing more than wordplay. "You can call it a toll, you can call it a fee, but at the end of the day it's just a game of words," he said.
While keeping the door to talks open, Rubio struck a firm note. "We want a deal with Iran, but not a deal at any cost," he said. For now the picture around Hormuz remains murky. The IRGC has issued a stern warning that anyone straying from the designated route without permission will not be spared.
Iran's New Gambit Over Hormuz
According to Rubio, there will be no change in the current status of the strait. Iran, on the other hand, keeps insisting that a new maritime order is now in force and that it will tighten its control and sovereignty over the strategic region. Tehran has hinted that if a final agreement is reached, it could try to levy a charge on ships.
What stands out is that Iran is now labelling this collection a "service fee." Earlier it had openly described it as a toll fee, but it now argues that charging a toll fee is barred under international law.
Eyes Also Fixed on the Nuclear Program
Beyond Hormuz, Rubio also weighed in on the other big issue, Iran's nuclear program. He pushed for verifiable steps and spelled out the need for IAEA inspections. Iran, however, has already said it has no plan at the moment for IAEA inspectors to visit the country.
An Effort to Reassure Gulf States
Rubio is currently on a three-day tour of the Gulf. The real purpose of the trip is to win the confidence of the Gulf states that are standing with the US on the interim agreement, so that they remain assured about Washington's decisions.
