U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran is not honoring its commitments over the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that Tehran is seeking a level of control over the waterway it does not have under international law. He said the dispute is a major obstacle in talks between Washington and Tehran, even as the U.S. says it remains open to diplomacy in the Middle East.
Rubio made the remarks at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meeting in the Philippines, where he said the United States would continue to pursue diplomacy if Iran was serious about negotiations. If not, he said Washington would take the steps it considers necessary to defend its own interests and those of its allies. He also warned that allowing any country to control an international shipping route, impose charges, and attack vessels that do not comply would create a dangerous precedent with consequences far beyond the region.
U.S. strikes target Iranian military infrastructure
His comments came as U.S. Central Command said it had struck Iranian targets for an 11th straight night in an effort to reduce Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Centcom, the attacks hit military operations centers, drone storage sites and military logistics infrastructure. The latest escalation added pressure to an already fragile regional situation, with oil markets reacting sharply to the risk of disruption.
Brent crude futures for September delivery rose 3.7% to $94.43 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures climbed 4% to $87.67. The report also noted that the United States and Iran signed an interim memorandum of understanding on June 17 that paused military operations, called for the reopening of Hormuz and set a 60-day window for talks on a permanent deal, including Iran’s nuclear program, although the future management of the strait was left unresolved.
Source: cnbc.com
