Abu Dhabi: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday and warned that Washington will not accept any country imposing tolls or fees on the Strait of Hormuz, calling the waterway subject to international law that prohibits such charges.
Rubio’s visit is the first by a senior US official to the Gulf since Washington and Tehran signed an initial memorandum of understanding on June 17 aimed at ending the war and reopening the strait. His Middle East tour, which also includes stops in Kuwait and Bahrain, will focus on the Iran agreement, ensuring free transit through the Strait of Hormuz, and broader regional stability, the State Department said.
The remarks followed statements from Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who rejected a return to the pre-war status quo in the strait even as Tehran and Washington establish communication channels to keep it open. Diplomacy intensified across the region on Tuesday, with talks involving Iranian and Gulf officials in Oman and Pakistan as mediators and regional leaders called for a definitive, peaceful settlement.
The conflict that began on Feb. 28, after US and Israeli strikes on Iran, had severe regional repercussions. Iran’s initial retaliation included closing the Strait of Hormuz and launching missile and drone attacks that struck Gulf states, disrupting trade and security in the area. The current talks in Switzerland mark the start of a 60-day negotiation period to resolve remaining issues such as sanctions relief and Iran’s nuclear program.
Rubio is due in Bahrain on Thursday to attend a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting and to continue consultations on implementing the Iran agreement and safeguarding navigation through the strategic waterway.