Rubio Says G7 Nations Should Back Reopening of Strait of Hormuz
The trip marks Rubio’s first return to international travel since the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on February 28.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued Friday that it would benefit every G7 member to press for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route currently blocked by Iran.
Rubio made the case as he prepared to fly to France for a meeting of G7 foreign ministers scheduled outside Paris, saying bluntly that assisting in any effort to restore access “is in their interest.”
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The trip marks Rubio’s first return to international travel since the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on February 28.
Speaking after skipping the first day of the G7 talks on Thursday, Rubio said negotiators had made “progress” in discussions with Iran. He declined to predict when the dialogue could produce an end state or outline how a breakthrough might unfold.
Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan—along with the United States—signaled the same day that they favored a diplomatic resolution, as tensions in Iran have reverberated through the global economy.
With the Strait of Hormuz operating near a standstill, roughly a fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the waterway in peacetime, underscoring the economic stakes.
At a cabinet meeting, US President Donald Trump said Tehran appeared more eager to reach an agreement than he was, adding that the military operation was ahead of schedule. He also renewed his criticism of NATO.
Later in that meeting, Rubio suggested that Washington’s allies should recognize what he described as the value of Trump’s action, calling attention to the offensive as coordinated with Israel.
“The president is not just doing a favour to the United States and to our people. This is for the world,” Rubio said.
France holds the current rotating presidency of the G7.
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