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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Iranian tolls on ships passing the Strait of Hormuz would risk total chaos and could spread to other waterways if accepted. Speaking at a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meeting in Bahrain, Rubio stated, "International waterways do not belong to any nation-state" Source: dwnews. He argued that charging for use of an international waterway would set a precedent that could spread "like a contagion" Source: cna.
Rubio also sought to reassure Gulf allies that any US-Iran deal would not undermine their security. "We want to ensure... that there is no part of this deal that's undertaken that in any way undermines the security, the stability, or the prosperity of any of our partners in the Gulf region," he said Source: cna. The US wants a peace deal with Iran, but "not at any price," emphasizing it must be "good, real, verifiable, and adhered to" Source: dwnews.
“"International waterways do not belong to any nation-state. This is a foundational principle in the world today, without which the world would be in total chaos," he told a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting in Bahrain.”
“"If in fact we accepted that you can charge money to use an international waterway because it happens to be near your territorial space, well then this will spread throughout the world like a contagion."”
“"We want to ensure ... that there is no part of this deal that's undertaken that in any way undermines the security, the stability, or the prosperity of any of our partners in the Gulf region," he said.”
“"While we want a deal, we don't want a deal at any price," he said. "We want a deal that's good, we want a deal that's real, we want a deal that's verifiable, and we want a deal that's adhered to."”
Rubio Rejects Iranian Transit Fees in Strait of Hormuz as Cargo Ship Attacked