Secretary Rubio: US Cannot ‘Normalize’ Iran’s Control of Strait of Hormuz — ‘They Cannot Decide Who Gets to Use It’
Reflecto News | Breaking News | US-Iran Relations
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Marco Rubio has firmly rejected any normalization of Iran’s de facto control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, declaring that the United States cannot tolerate a system where Tehran decides which nations may transit the waterway and on what terms.
Rubio’s statement, made during a press briefing, constitutes the most direct public rejection of Iran’s central wartime demand: a “new legal regime” that would enshrine Iran’s sovereign control over the strait and guarantee continued revenue from its transit. Tehran has made acceptance of this new framework a precondition for reopening the waterway, which carries approximately 20% of the world’s seaborne oil.
“They cannot normalize, nor can we tolerate them trying to normalize a system in which the Iranians decide who gets to use an international waterway and how much you have to pay them to use it.”
— Secretary of State Marco Rubio, United States
The Strategic Chokepoint: Why the Strait Matters
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow passage separating Iran from the Arabian Peninsula, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean. Roughly 20% of global oil supply transits the strait, making its free passage a non-negotiable U.S. strategic interest.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Between Iran (north) and Oman/UAE (south) |
| Width | Approx. 21 nautical miles at narrowest point |
| Oil transit (pre-war) | ~20 million barrels per day (20% of global supply) |
| LNG transit | ~30% of global liquefied natural gas |
| U.S. Fifth Fleet base | Manama, Bahrain (transits strait to reach Indian Ocean) |
Since the war began with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on February 28, Iran has effectively closed the waterway, disrupting global energy markets and forcing the United States to impose its own naval blockade on Iranian ports in retaliation.
Rubio’s remarks clarify that even if the current military standoff ends, the United States will not accept a permanent change in the strait’s legal status that grants Iran the authority to regulate or tax passage—a fundamental Iranian demand.
The ‘New Legal Regime’: What Iran Wants
Tehran has been explicit about its war aims regarding the strait. According to Iranian officials and media reports, Iran’s conditions for reopening the waterway include:
- Iranian control over transit – Tehran would decide which nations and vessels may transit the strait
- Right to levy tolls – Iran would collect revenue from passing ships
- Preferential treatment for ‘friendly’ nations – Allied states (China, Russia) would pay less than adversaries
- Exclusion of U.S. Navy – American warships would require Iranian permission to enter the Gulf
- Legal codification in a new treaty – Replace the existing international law regime
Iran has framed this demand as a “new legal regime” necessary to secure its sovereignty and compensate for war damages. The United States has rejected this framing, insisting that the strait remains an international waterway governed by the Law of the Sea.
Rubio’s “cannot normalize” warning suggests that Washington considers Iran’s demand a non-starter, regardless of what other concessions Tehran might offer. The United States will not accept a permanent change in the strait’s status that leaves the global economy at the mercy of Iranian approval.
The Negotiating Impasse
The Strait of Hormuz is the central sticking point in US-Iran ceasefire negotiations.
| Party | Position on the Strait |
|---|---|
| Iran | Demands a “new legal regime” that enshrines its sovereign control and right to collect tolls |
| United States | Refuses to accept any change to the pre-war legal status; insists strait remains an international waterway |
| Proposed compromise | Iran would reopen the strait now, deferring the legal-status negotiation to a later stage (Iran has offered this; US has not accepted) |
Iran has offered to reopen the strait in exchange for postponing legal-status negotiations to a later stage—a proposal the administration has not accepted because it would leave open the possibility that Iran could ultimately achieve its maximalist demand.
President Trump has insisted that the United States “holds all the cards” and that Iran must concede without receiving permanent legal changes to the strait’s status—one of the reasons the first round of peace talks in Islamabad collapsed and no second round has been scheduled .
The International Law Dimension
Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which the United States has not ratified but generally follows as customary international law, the Strait of Hormuz is an international strait used for international navigation.
- Transit passage rights – Vessels and aircraft enjoy the right of unimpeded transit through international straits
- No suspension – Coastal states may not suspend transit passage
- No tolls – Coastal states may not levy charges for transit passage
Iran argues that because it has not ratified UNCLOS (and the US has not ratified it), the convention does not bind Tehran. However, the international community has generally treated the strait as governed by customary international law, which mirrors UNCLOS provisions.
Rubio’s statement that the United States “cannot tolerate” Iran deciding “how much you have to pay them to use it” directly addresses Iran’s demand to levy tolls on transiting vessels—something no coastal state currently does for passage through an international strait. Establishing such a precedent could have global implications, potentially prompting other nations (Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey) to demand similar tolls for straits within their waters .
Military Implications: Enforcing Freedom of Navigation
Rubio’s statement is not merely diplomatic. It implies continued military enforcement of freedom of navigation if necessary.
Potential enforcement options :
| Option | Likelihood | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Continued naval blockade | Current | US prevents Iranian exports; Iran prevents all transits |
| Targeted escort missions | Moderate | US Navy escorts allied tankers through strait, regardless of Iranian permission |
| Strike on Iranian anti-ship batteries | Moderate | US destroys coastal defenses that threaten transit |
| Full-scale military campaign | Low | Would require congressional authorization and end ceasefire |
Rubio’s “cannot tolerate” language strongly suggests that even if the current war ends, the United States will not accept a permanent Iranian coastal defense system that can effectively close the strait at will. This implies either continued military pressure or a negotiated settlement that leaves Iran’s anti-ship capabilities degraded and international transit rights intact .
What Comes Next
Rubio’s statement leaves little room for diplomatic ambiguity on the strait’s status. However, it does not foreclose a negotiated compromise if Tehran withdraws its demand for a formal “new legal regime” in exchange for sanctions relief or other benefits.
- If Iran insists on permanent control – Talks will remain stalled; the stalemate will continue
- If Iran accepts a face-saving compromise – Could postpone the legal-status fight to later negotiations, allowing immediate reopening of the strait
For now, the United States has drawn a line: no normalization, no Iranian tolls, no Iranian veto over which nations may transit. Iran has drawn its own line: a new legal regime or no reopening. The gap between the positions remains wide, and the strait remains effectively closed.
Key Takeaways for Reflecto News Readers
| Aspect | Summary |
|---|---|
| Rubio’s statement | US cannot tolerate Iran deciding who uses Hormuz or what they pay |
| Current status | Strait effectively closed since war began (Feb 28) |
| Iran’s demand | “New legal regime” with Iranian control over transit and right to collect tolls |
| US position | Strait remains international waterway; demand is non-negotiable |
| International law | UNCLOS guarantees transit passage; US follows as customary law but hasn’t ratified |
| Negotiation status | Talks stalled; Iran offered to postpone issue, US hasn’t accepted |
| Military implication | US continues naval blockade; Rubio signals long-term enforcement of transit rights |
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