U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Gulf foreign ministers that Washington will not tolerate any fees for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and that no deal with Iran will undermine Gulf security. Separately, President Trump praised Turkish President Erdogan for staying out of the regional war and hinted at approving F-35 sales to Turkey.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a meeting with Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers in Manama on Thursday, aiming to reassure Gulf allies that any U.S.-Iran agreement will not compromise their security. Rubio said the meeting was "fruitful and beneficial" and focused on Gulf concerns, including Iran's funding of Hezbollah and the Houthis. He reiterated President Trump's position that no country may charge fees for passage through the Strait of Hormuz—a stance he called a "game of semantics" and flatly rejected. "No country on earth has a right to charge for the use of international waterways," Rubio said, adding that Gulf states do not support imposing such tolls. He affirmed that no funds have been transferred to Iran and that no agreement has been reached to do so. The remarks follow months of tension over Iranian attempts to levy transit fees in the strategic waterway, which Trump has previously threatened to counter with force. Separately, President Trump told reporters that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan remained on the sidelines of the Iran-Israel war at his request, calling Erdogan a "friend" and a "strong member of NATO." When asked whether Washington would approve F-35 sales or F-110 jet engines to Turkey, Trump replied: "I'm going to probably do something that's going to make him very happy." The U.S. removed Turkey from the F-35 program in 2019 over its acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile system, but Trump's remarks signal a potential policy shift.
- StrongSecretary of State Rubio discusses Iran deal and Strait of Hormuz with UAE leadership
- StrongTrump reiterates: No final Iran deal may include tolls in Strait of Hormuz
- DevelopingRubio assures Gulf states their interests will be protected in Iran deal
- StrongRubio warns Iran Hormuz toll scheme is unworkable: 'You shoot one ship, you sink one ship'
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