Rubio: Iran Has Lost Control of Hormuz... We Will Not Accept a Single State Controlling the Strait

- Tehran squandered several opportunities to reach an agreement on its nuclear program

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that Iran had squandered several opportunities to reach an agreement with the United States regarding its nuclear program, asserting that Tehran had “lost full control of the Strait of Hormuz.”

Speaking at a press conference in Athens, Rubio stated that “it is unacceptable for a single country to control a vital maritime route,” referring to Iran and its efforts to dominate navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

He emphasized the need for diverse pathways and sources of energy supplies, reiterating that “Iran has lost full control of the Strait of Hormuz.”

Regarding the situation in Iran, Rubio said it had “failed, its economy is collapsing, and it is now facing sanctions,” adding that it was “spending money on terrorism, weapons, and Hezbollah.”

The U.S. Secretary of State reiterated that Iran must not possess a nuclear program, while pointing to its industrial, military, and combat capabilities.

Earlier on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that large volumes of oil shipments continued to pass daily through the Strait of Hormuz, claiming that the strait was under complete control of the U.S. Navy.

Rubio arrived in Athens, where he is holding a “strategic dialogue” with Greece, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), on Wednesday, focusing on regional security and energy security, according to the U.S. Department of State.

Speaking to journalists before the visit, Rubio said that “Greece is a very important ally of the United States,” adding that it was “not only a place where we have a military presence, but we also maintain strong economic ties with it.”