Rubio Warns Iranian Control of Hormuz Would Set Dangerous Precedent

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Southeast Asian foreign ministers in Manila that allowing Iran to control the Strait of Hormuz would create a dangerous precedent beyond the Middle East. He warned that a state cannot control an international waterway, charge tolls and attack ships that refuse to pay without consequences. Rubio said nearly 20% of global energy supply relies on the passage and argued that violations of commitments must carry consequences. The remarks came at the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference as regional ministers confronted renewed U.S.-Iran hostilities and disruption to energy shipments.