U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio insists reopening the vital Strait of Hormuz remains a core objective in ongoing diplomatic negotiations with Iran.
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Marco Rubio has continued to emphasize the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as a central U.S. objective in negotiations with Iran, as Washington balances diplomatic efforts with ongoing military operations in the region.
The strategically important waterway has remained at the center of the crisis because of its role in global energy transportation. Shipping through the strait has fallen sharply from normal levels amid the conflict, disrupting oil and gas movements and increasing uncertainty for governments, energy companies and international markets. Recent reporting indicates that only a fraction of the vessels that normally pass through the waterway have been transiting it.
Rubio has argued that the waterway cannot remain under conditions that threaten commercial shipping. In remarks about U.S. policy, he has said the strait must remain open and that Washington would continue defending American interests and international shipping.