Talking at a gathering of NATO international ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, on Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated “no nation on the earth ought to settle for” Iran’s newest scheme to manage the Strait of Hormuz in perpetuity and extort “tolls” from worldwide transport.
“Iran is making an attempt to create a tolling system. They’re making an attempt to persuade Oman, by the best way, to affix them on this tolling system in a world waterway. There’s not a rustic on the earth that ought to settle for that,” Rubio stated after assembly with NATO Secretary-Common Mark Rutte.
“I don’t know of a rustic on the earth that’s in favor of it, besides Iran, however there’s no nation on the earth that ought to settle for it,” he repeated.
Rubio warned that permitting a hostile nation to ascertain a “tolling system in a world waterway” would set a dire precedent for the liberty of navigation.
“It could actually’t occur. If that have been to occur within the Strait of Hormuz, it is going to occur in 5 different locations around the globe. Why wouldn’t international locations everywhere in the world say, ‘Effectively, we wish to do that too,’” he stated.
Alongside together with his criticism of Iran’s designs on the Strait of Hormuz, Rubio stated there was modest progress on ceasefire talks with Tehran.
“There’s been some slight progress, I don’t wish to exaggerate it, however there’s been just a little little bit of motion, and that’s good,” he stated.
“The basics stay the identical. Iran can by no means have a nuclear weapon, it simply can not,” he pressured.
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Rubio stated his view of the present state of affairs was neither “optimistic or pessimistic.”
“We’re not there but, and hopefully that’ll change,” he stated.
The U.S.-sponsored decision in opposition to Iran’s assaults on transport within the Strait of Hormuz on the U.N. Safety Council (UNSC) now has extra co-sponsors than some other decision in historical past, in accordance with Rubio, though he famous that Iran’s allies China and Russia might use their veto privileges in opposition to it.
“Sadly, a few international locations on the Safety Council are excited about vetoing it. That will be lamentable,” Rubio stated.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with journalists throughout a gathering of NATO international ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, Could 22, 2026. (AP Photograph/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
“We’re doing the whole lot we will, although, to realize the kind of world consensus that’s mandatory to forestall this from occurring, and we’re making an attempt to make use of the United Nations,” he added.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has borne the brunt of Iran’s unprovoked assaults on neighboring international locations, additionally urged UNSC to take motion in opposition to Iran on Friday. UAE Ambassador Ghasaq Shaheen urged the Safety Council to implement its resolutions in opposition to Iran for attacking civilian infrastructure and violating navigational rights and freedoms.
On Thursday, the leftist publication New York Instances reported that Iran has been making an attempt to curiosity Oman, which lies on the opposite aspect of the Strait of Hormuz, in a partnership to manage visitors by way of the strategic waterway and acquire tolls. There was no indication of whether or not Oman responded to Iran’s proposals.
On this photograph launched by the Iranian Overseas Ministry, Iranian Overseas Minister Abbas Araghchi, proper, shakes arms with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq throughout their assembly, in Muscat, Oman, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Iranian Overseas Ministry by way of AP)
Additionally on Thursday, Iran’s new “Persian Gulf Strait Authority” revealed a map that asserted “Iranian armed forces oversight” throughout greater than 8,800 sq. miles, extending from the Strait of Hormuz into the territorial waters of Oman and the UAE.
The Iranian company claimed that each one passage by way of this space would “require coordination with, and authorization from, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority.”
Anwar Gargash, a diplomatic adviser to the Emirati presidency, dismissed Iran’s try and “encroach on the UAE’s maritime sovereignty” as “nothing however fragments of desires.” The UAE joined forces with Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia earlier this week to ask the Worldwide Maritime Group to not adjust to any calls for made by the Persian Gulf Strait Authority.
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