US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday criticised Iran over the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, calling any form of toll system in the crucial maritime route “unlawful” and “unacceptable” as Washington continues negotiations with Tehran over a possible agreement.
Speaking aboard his flight to New Delhi ahead of the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Rubio also indicated that the Trump administration was moving closer to a preliminary understanding with regional stakeholders on Iran, but warned that the talks would move forward only if the final outcome met Washington’s expectations.
“The strait needs to be open without tolls. What is happening there is unlawful, illegal, unsustainable and unacceptable. No country in the world is accepting of a tolling system except Iran,” Rubio said in remarks carried by Reuters.
The sharp comments come at a time when the US and Iran are engaged in ceasefire and diplomatic discussions, with the Strait of Hormuz once again emerging as a sensitive geopolitical flashpoint. The waterway remains one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes, making any disruption or restriction a matter of global concern.
Rubio says Iran deal must meet US expectations
Rubio also spoke about the prospects of a potential agreement between Washington and Tehran, saying US President Donald Trump had recently spoken to several regional leaders regarding a draft framework.
“The President had a historic call with a number of leaders from the region, and I think there is a strong alignment and agreement on what a preliminary draft should look like. It will take a couple of days to settle on,” Rubio said.
He added, “Either there is going to be a good deal, or there isn’t going to be one.”
Rubio arrived in Delhi on Tuesday to attend the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. He was accompanied by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor.
Before reaching the national capital, Rubio visited Jaipur on Monday along with his wife Jeanette Rubio and Ambassador Gor. The delegation toured the historic Amer Fort during the visit.
In a post on X, Gor described Jaipur as the “Pink City” where “every sunset paints the palaces in hues of rose and gold.”
Trump says Iran’s enriched uranium could be destroyed
Meanwhile, Trump said Iran’s enriched uranium could either be handed over to the US for destruction or eliminated under international supervision at another agreed location.
“The Enriched Uranium (Nuclear Dust!) will either be immediately turned over to the United States to be brought home and destroyed or, preferably, in conjunction and coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, destroyed in place,” Trump said on Truth Social.
According to CNN, US officials viewed the presence of senior Iranian negotiators in Qatar earlier this week as a positive sign for ongoing diplomatic engagement. Qatar has been acting as a mediator between the two sides.
Trump has repeatedly maintained that any agreement with Tehran must be a “great and meaningful” deal, warning that Washington would walk away if its conditions were not met.