Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, recently addressed developments related to Iran and the security of maritime routes in the region. He emphasized that achieving an agreement between Washington and Tehran will require "continuous work" and time. Rubio also noted that the Trump administration has various options to address the current developments, with military options being one of them.
Defending Straits and Reducing Ship Traffic
Rubio also announced that the U.S. will continue to defend maritime straits and efforts to keep them open. He claimed that the southern route of the Strait of Hormuz is open, while ship traffic in the area has significantly decreased. According to shipping data, only two cargo vessels have passed through this waterway, while the average traffic of large commercial ships before the escalation of conflicts was about 125 vessels per day.
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Concerns about Iran and Its Supported Forces
The U.S. Secretary of State also pointed out that Iran believes that Democrats will win the U.S. midterm elections, and afterward, Donald Trump will not have the opportunity to act against Tehran. These remarks come as Donald Trump has expressed hope for reaching an agreement with Iran, and negotiations and contacts between the two sides continue.
Rubio also described Iran-supported forces in the region as a threat to the security and sovereignty of the countries in which they operate, stating that the U.S. will always prioritize its national interests. He reported a consensus among Gulf countries regarding the necessity of keeping maritime straits open and free, emphasizing the need to prevent any attacks on these waterways.
Uncertainties and security challenges in the region continue, and Rubio described the situation regarding the Houthis and developments in Yemen as a "very serious problem." He stressed the need for attention to this issue among regional countries and stated that diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions between the U.S. and Iran are ongoing.
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