US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Iran is using the Strait of Hormuz as leverage amid regional tensions. Speaking to reporters, Rubio argues that “some people in Iran” want to control the straits and use them to apply pressure to the wider world. He frames the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic chokepoint for global shipping and links his remarks to the ongoing conflict in the region.
Rubio says the United States will continue doing what it needs to protect global shipping. At the same time, he calls on other countries to increase their support. He urges them to “step up” by providing assistance such as hardware or financing to help share the burden of safeguarding shipping routes.
Overall, the outlets’ accounts focus on Rubio’s accusation of Iranian attempts to exert leverage through the strait and his appeal for broader international cooperation, while noting the US commitment to continue its own protective measures.
