Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged that the Strait of Hormuz be reopened as soon as an agreement with Iran is reached, saying the waterway will be open ‘one way or the other.’
Speaking to reporters during a multi-nation diplomatic tour, Rubio condemned Iran’s self-declared ‘tolling system,’ calling it unlawful, illegal, unacceptable and ‘unsustainable for the world.’ He said no country supports the arrangement, naming Russia and China among those opposed.
Rubio was speaking aboard his plane at Jaipur International Airport in Jaipur, India, as he continued consultations with regional partners.
On a potential U.S.-Iran deal, Rubio said a preliminary draft has backing from a number of regional leaders but that finalizing terms will take time. He noted a recent, important call by the president with several regional leaders and said there is strong alignment on what a draft should look like. ‘I think, like anything with something like this, it’s going to take a couple days to settle on,’ he said, adding that if there is a deal ‘we’re going to have to work through that,’ and that the options are to secure a good deal or walk away.