Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Tuesday that Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz could set a dangerous precedent for other countries to restrict vital shipping lanes, according to HuffPost. Speaking at a White House press briefing, Rubio acknowledged Iran's current dominance in the strait but emphasized that this situation would not exist if President Donald Trump had not initiated war with Iran in February.
Key Takeaways
Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz could set a dangerous precedent for other countries to restrict shipping lanes. The closure has impacted global trade and U.S. gas prices. Rubio also downplayed concerns about rising fuel costs, stating they are worse in other nations.
The Strait of Hormuz, a major artery for global oil supply, has been closed since the conflict began. According to BBC, traffic through the strait is now only a tiny fraction of what it was before the war. Rubio stated that if Iran had nuclear weapons, it could further exacerbate the situation by driving up gas prices worldwide.
The U.S. has been working on Project Freedom, an effort to safeguard commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by UPI. Despite ongoing tensions and exchanges of fire between Iranian and U.S. forces, Rubio declared that Operation Epic Fury—the initial stage of the conflict—is over.
The war in Iran has led to a significant increase in gas prices, with the national average reaching $4.48 per gallon for regular unleaded fuel and $5.66 for diesel, as noted by UPI. Rubio downplayed these rising costs, asserting that U.S. residents are better off than those in other countries experiencing worse price surges.
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