"International waterways belong to no single nation," Rubio says; pledges any peace deal will not undermine Gulf partners' interests

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to the press at Bahrain International Airport on Thursday. [AFP]
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to the press at Bahrain International Airport on Thursday. [AFP]

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on a Middle East tour, sharply criticized Iran's claim of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and its plan to impose transit fees on commercial shipping.

He also reaffirmed Washington's position that it will pursue follow-on negotiations with Iran on a ceasefire agreement while refusing to conclude any deal that undermines the security of Gulf allies.

Speaking Thursday at a Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers' meeting in Manama, Bahrain, Rubio dismissed Iran's push to charge vessels passing through the strait. "Whether you call it a toll or a fee, it's ultimately just wordplay," he said, according to Reuters and AFP.

He went on to say that international waterways belong to no single nation, calling that principle a cornerstone of the current world order. "If that principle collapses, the world will fall into complete chaos," he said. "We will never accept the claim that the Strait of Hormuz belongs to any particular country."

Rubio warned that allowing a country to charge for passage through an international waterway simply because it lies near that country's territorial waters would spread "like a contagion across the world," and called on the international community to respond firmly.

Iran has signaled it will allow merchant vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz free of charge during the 60-day follow-on negotiation period under the ceasefire agreement, but intends to collect what it calls a service fee afterward.

Rubio also focused on reassuring Gulf allies about the ongoing peace process, including the follow-on negotiations with Iran.

"The United States wants this to succeed and will do everything it can to make that happen," he said, adding that Washington would ensure "any decision made here does not run counter to the interests of our allies and partners." He pledged again that the interests of allied nations would be reflected in every outcome of the agreement.

Rubio made clear that the peace Washington seeks must rest on the security of its allies. "We are open to a lasting and genuine peace — one that does not undermine the security and prosperity of the United States or our allies," he said.


mokiya@heraldcorp.com