US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Gulf states agree that Iran must not collect any payment in the Strait of Hormuz, however renamed — whether called fees or taxes — according to N12.
In his latest remarks on the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Gulf states are agreed that Iran must not collect any payment — whether called fees, commissions, or taxes — for passage through the strategic waterway. The statement, reported by N12 on Thursday afternoon, expands on Rubio's earlier position, clarifying that the opposition encompasses all forms of payment, not merely a named 'toll.'
Rubio had already stated upon concluding his visit to Bahrain on Tuesday (19:17 Jerusalem) that no Gulf state supports an Iranian fee. His initial rejection that same Tuesday (19:17 Jerusalem) called Iran's demand a 'semantic game.' The thread has evolved from a single-channel report to multiple confirmations: on Wednesday (23:43 Jerusalem), The Zioneer reported President Trump reiterating that no final deal may include Strait of Hormuz tolls.
The administration's hardening stance comes as Tehran has signaled conditions: on Wednesday (15:31 Jerusalem), Iran announced it would not collect fees for 60 days, while a negotiating-team member said Sunday (01:03 Jerusalem) that 'you will pay at Hormuz — that is final.' The Zioneer also reported on Saturday (23:19 Jerusalem) that Trump had warned Iran against toll collection during the ceasefire.
It remains open whether Gulf states' agreement extends beyond private diplomatic channels to a public, formal joint statement. Iran's public position remains that it considers the strait under its sovereignty and Oman's, and its temporary fee suspension does not indicate a permanent concession.
7 developments
- StrongMarco Rubio says US relations with Oman 'fine', dismisses Hormuz toll system
- StrongTrump reiterates: No final Iran deal may include tolls in Strait of Hormuz
- StrongIranian Foreign Ministry spokesman: toll collection in Strait of Hormuz continues, contradicting Trump
- DevelopingRubio dismisses Iranian 'extreme rhetoric', warns US will act if ships blocked
Source and signal
- Internal intake