Tackling Tehran’s grip on a maritime pinchpoint will be one of the ‘immediate challenges’, says the top official
The UK is taking a “prominent role” in efforts to ensure a vital shipping route stays open in the future, US secretary of state Marco Rubio has said amid steps by Iran to impose a “toll booth” system in the Strait of Hormuz.
He said tackling Tehran’s stranglehold on the crucial waterway would be one of the “immediate challenges” following the current Middle East war and insisted “the world better step up” to deal with it.
The key part being played by Britain was highlighted by Mr Rubio in the wake of criticism by Donald Trump, who lashed out again at Sir Keir Starmer over his stance on the conflict and dismissed the UK’s aircraft carriers as “toys”.
In the face of ongoing military strikes by the US and Israel, Iran has tightened its grip on the maritime pinchpoint, sending global oil and gas prices skyrocketing.
Commercial tankers are being vetted by the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) with some reportedly being charged up to two million dollars (£1.5 million) for safe passage.
Shipping information firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence said: “Iran’s IRGC has imposed a de facto ‘toll booth’ regime in the Strait of Hormuz.”
Speaking after meeting his counterparts from the G7 group of leading democracies in France, Mr Rubio said he expected the campaign against Iran to end “in a matter of weeks, not months”, and that Washington could meet all its aims without using ground troops.
It came after Mr Trump again delayed his threat of “energy plant destruction” in Iran and insisted talks aimed at securing a ceasefire “were going very well” despite few details known about who the US is in discussions with.
On the ongoing military operation, Mr Rubio said: “Obviously, we have some work to do. We have to finish the job, and we are finishing that job.
“I did describe to our allies, however, that immediately after this thing ends and our – we’re done with our objectives, one of the immediate challenges we’re going to face is an Iran that may decide that they want to set up a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Not only is this illegal, it’s unacceptable. It’s dangerous to the world, and it’s important that the world have a plan to confront it.”
He added: “The United States is prepared to be a part of that plan. We don’t have to lead that plan, but we – we’re happy to be a part of it.
“But these countries have a lot at stake, not just the G7 countries, but countries in Asia and all over the world have a lot at stake and should contribute greatly to that effort to ensure that neither the Strait of Hormuz or, frankly, any international waterways should ever be something that’s controlled or tolled by a nation-state or by a terroristic government like the one that exists in Iran today, and that’s their radical clerical regime.
“So there seemed to be a lot of buy-in to that concept. There’s a lot of work happening right now. The UK has played a prominent role in bringing that together, but other countries as well, and there seemed to be a lot of acceptance of all that.”
Mr Rubio claimed there had been “confusion” over the US wanting to draw allies into the war itself, but described their involvement as “a post-conflict necessity.”
He said: “Look, I don’t care what Iran says. The first few tankers that go through the strait after this operation is over, they’re going to want an escort from somebody or they’re not going to be able to get insurance. So the world better step up.”
He added: “So we’ll be there to help. We’re willing to be a part of that coalition. But we’ve encouraged others to sort of put it together, and many today signified not only that they understood that message and agreed with it, but they were working hard to make that happen.”
