Rubio Warns Iran Control Of Hormuz Would Set A Dangerous Precedent

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday warned Southeast Asian foreign ministers that allowing Iran to control the Strait of Hormuz would establish a dangerous precedent for international maritime security. Speaking at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathering in Manila, Rubio said such a move could have consequences far beyond the Middle East and affect other important waterways around the world. Rubio’s comments came as US Central Command said it had launched strikes against military targets in Iran for the "11th consecutive night" as part of efforts to reduce Tehran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the strategic waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime routes, through which a significant share of global energy supplies passes. "If we create a precedent in the Middle East where a nation-state can decide to control an international waterway, charge a toll, and blow up your ships if you don't pay, we have created a very dangerous precedent that will repeat itself in other parts of the world, including this region," Rubio told ASEAN officials.

Rubio said Iran does not have the legal authority to control the movement of international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. He argued that the issue represented a broader challenge to the principle of freedom of navigation, which allows commercial and military vessels to operate through international waterways under established maritime rules. "At its core, it's very simple. Iran demands the right -- which they do not have under any existing legal mechanism -- to control the transit of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz," Rubio said. "There is a fundamental principle about freedom of navigation that is threatened. That cannot be allowed to happen."

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The US Secretary of State’s remarks came as Southeast Asian nations continue to manage tensions over competing territorial claims in the South China Sea. The waterway is another major route for international trade and has been the centre of disputes involving China and several ASEAN member states. Rubio’s visit to Manila also coincided with US criticism of a recent confrontation between Chinese and Philippine sailors in the disputed South China Sea. The issue has added to regional concerns about maritime security and the enforcement of international navigation rights.

During the ASEAN summit, Rubio was also scheduled to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the gathering. He was expected to hold discussions with representatives from Quad countries, including India, Australia and Japan, as part of broader diplomatic engagements in the region. Addressing US-Iran relations, Rubio said Washington remained open to diplomacy but accused Tehran of not approaching negotiations seriously. He said the United States was willing to engage in "positive and constructive negotiations" if commitments made during talks were respected.

"The United States remains open and willing to engage in positive and constructive negotiations and discussions, provided that the commitments made are honored," Rubio said. "If they are serious, we will be too. If they are not, then we will do what is necessary to protect our interests and those of our allies." The comments underline Washington’s broader concerns over maritime security, regional stability and the protection of global trade routes. As tensions continue in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific region, freedom of navigation remains a key issue in US foreign policy discussions.

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