JAKARTA - The United States has confirmed that it will not accept any fees or charges in the Strait of Hormuz. This attitude was conveyed when Washington and Tehran had just started a diplomatic process to end the war and keep the sea lanes open.
Launching an Arab News report Wednesday, June 24, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the statement after arriving in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday. This visit was the first visit by a senior US official to the Gulf region since Washington and Tehran signed the initial agreement.
"It's an international waterway," Rubio said. He emphasized that no country should impose taxes or fees on international waterways because it is regulated by international law.
Rubio also said that countries in the Gulf region would likely align with the US position.
The statement came after Tehran's chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, confirmed that the Strait of Hormuz would never return to its pre-war state. This statement was made even though the US and Iran agreed to establish a communication line to keep the strait open.
Rubio began his tour from the United Arab Emirates. He will also visit Kuwait and Bahrain. In Bahrain, Rubio is scheduled to attend a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council on Thursday.
The US State Department said Rubio would discuss the deal with Iran, freedom of transit in the Strait of Hormuz, and efforts to maintain regional peace and stability.
The US President and the Iranian President signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17 to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The first round of talks took place in Switzerland over the weekend. The negotiations are part of a 60-day negotiation period to resolve outstanding issues, including easing sanctions and the future of Iran's nuclear program.
Rubio's arrival comes at a time when regional diplomacy is crowded. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visited Pakistan, one of the important mediators, along with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Araghchi and Ghalibaf also met with Oman Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Oman. Oman's state media said the Sultan hoped for a peaceful and final settlement.
The Gulf states were hit hard by the conflict that began on February 28, when the US and Israel launched a bombing attack on Iran.
Iran retaliated by closing the Strait of Hormuz and launching missile and drone attacks on Gulf states.
Rubio's visit is part of US efforts to discuss the implementation of the initial agreement with Iran, maintain freedom of transit in the Strait of Hormuz, and promote stability in the Gulf region.
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