The Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned this Monday that the Strait of Hormuz represents "the equivalent of an economic nuclear weapon" that Iran is trying to wield against the world.
Rubio was interviewed by the chief correspondent of Fox News, Trey Yingst, on the program Special Report, where he harshly described the Iranian regime's energy pressure strategy: "They brag about it. They put up billboards in Tehran boasting about how they can hold between 20% and 25% of the world's energy hostage. Imagine if those same people had access to a nuclear weapon. They would hold the entire region hostage."
The statements come at a time of heightened tension. On March 19, 2026, Iran officially closed the strait using mines, drones, and missiles, attacking more than 20 commercial vessels, stranding around 2,000 ships with 20,000 sailors, and collapsing naval traffic by 97%.
The price of Brent crude rose from 67 to over 126 dollars per barrel.
The crisis broke out on February 28 with Operation Epic Fury, a joint attack by the U.S. and Israel that destroyed over 9,000 Iranian military targets and resulted in the death of the supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
Iran responded with Operation True Promise 4, launching over 500 missiles and 2,000 drones against Israel and 27 U.S. bases.
Last Sunday, Iran proposed to reopen the Strait and pause nuclear discussions, but Rubio rejected the offer as unacceptable.
The secretary stressed that any agreement must include the permanent dismantling of Iran's nuclear program: "We must ensure that any agreement reached definitively prevents Iran from advancing toward a nuclear weapon at any point."
Washington's position also demands a 20-year moratorium on uranium enrichment, while Tehran is only offering a five-year pause and is claiming 270 billion dollars in war reparations, making the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran extremely difficult.
Rubio also described the internal state of Iran as devastating: a "crushed" economy, soaring inflation, persistent drought, difficulties in paying salaries, the loss of half of its missiles, and a lack of navy and air force.
He pointed out that the Iranian leadership is "fractured," with negotiators in internal disagreement, although he believed that Tehran is "serious" about finding a way out of its "disaster."
Last Sunday, President Trump canceled the trip of his envoys to Islamabad and demanded that Iran call directly if it wishes to continue negotiations, stating that “time is on Washington's side.”
Last Friday, Iran declared the strait “completely open,” which caused a temporary relief in gasoline prices, although on Saturday it reimposed "strict control" over the maritime passage.
Rubio had already warned in March, during a G7 meeting in Paris, that "Iran's attempt to permanently control the Strait of Hormuz will never be allowed," a stance he maintains while the U.S. upholds the naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman with estimated losses for the Iranian regime ranging from 435 to 500 million dollars daily.
Filed under: