Marco Rubio says Iran cannot impose tolls on Hormuz Strait

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio began a tour of the Gulf states, meeting leaders in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Bahrain before heading to Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia. He told reporters that any final U.S.–Iran memorandum will forbid Iran from charging tolls or fees for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, calling the waterway an international shipping lane and saying such charges would breach international law. Rubio stressed that the United States will continue direct talks with Lebanon’s government and will work with the Gulf Cooperation Council to address regional security concerns, including Iran’s ballistic‑missile program and the lack of limits on its nuclear activities. He also mentioned a proposed $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran and warned that the GCC partners remain uneasy about concessions that could shift the balance of power. The visits aim to reassure Gulf allies that the U.S. will not compromise their safety while seeking a durable end to the conflict that began in February 2024.