WASHINGTON: Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could resume as soon as Iran stops threatening international navigation, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Thursday. “It could be open tomorrow if Iran stops threatening global shipping,” Rubio said, according to the State Department.
When asked about the possibility of a US ground operation to restore passage through the strait, Rubio did not provide a direct answer. His comments come amid heightened tensions in the region following the military operations launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28, which targeted key Iranian cities including Tehran.
In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps carried out strikes against Israeli targets and US military facilities in Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. During the conflict, Tehran also imposed restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, blocking vessels from countries supporting the US-Israel military action. Several tankers were attacked for attempting to transit the strait without Iranian approval.
On March 25, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that Iran had permitted vessels from friendly countries, including Russia, India, Iraq, China, and Pakistan, to pass through the strategic waterway. The move was seen as an attempt to maintain selective trade while asserting Tehran’s control over the strait amid ongoing hostilities.
Rubio’s statement underscores Washington’s position that normal commercial and strategic navigation can resume once Iran ceases its aggressive posture, even as the broader conflict between Iran, the US, and Israel continues to affect regional security and global energy markets.
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