
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that Iran cannot be allowed to control or charge tolls for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a threat to the global economy and international trade. Speaking at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Rubio said freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle that must be protected. He cautioned that allowing any nation to restrict access to an international waterway or threaten commercial shipping would set a dangerous global precedent. His remarks come amid heightened tensions in West Asia and growing concerns over disruptions to global energy supplies and maritime trade.