Washington (Monitoring Desk)Marco Rubio has said that the Strait of Hormuz is a global trade route that cannot be placed under the exclusive control of any single country, adding that Iran must immediately come to the negotiating table to resolve the situation.
Speaking at a press briefing at the White House, he said the US-led operation “Project Freedom” is aimed at protecting human lives and is not intended as a war against any country. He added that safeguarding maritime trade routes in the region remains a top priority.
The US Secretary of State accused Iran of engaging in irresponsible activities in the Strait of Hormuz and warned that Washington would not tolerate any actions that endanger global trade.
He further claimed that recent operations have targeted seven Iranian fast boats, while reports also suggest the deaths of 10 civilian sailors during the escalation. According to him, US forces will continue operations against drones and suspicious vessels in the region.
Marco Rubio added that alleged blockades and actions against Iran are causing economic damage, but the US leadership still prefers a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
He also stated that Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have been assigned responsibilities for diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. According to him, the goal of current measures is to ensure regional stability and secure global energy supply routes.