Marco Rubio warns Iran's "rogue regime" holds 20 percent of world energy hostage in Strait of Hormuz

In Manila on July 22, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed ASEAN foreign ministers, warning that Iran’s interference with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz endangers global commerce and could embolden similar challenges to maritime rules in Asia. Rubio stated that Washington remains open to negotiations but accused Tehran of insincerity regarding talks. He argued that letting Iran control the waterway would set a dangerous precedent, threatening the international legal order that has governed trade for over a century. The remarks came amid recent U.S. strikes on Iranian military assets linked to commercial vessel threats. Rubio’s assessment that a significant portion of the world’s energy supply is effectively seized by a regime operating outside international law underscores the stakes for both the global economy and freedom of navigation.