Rubio reassures the international community: Iran will not be allowed to impose fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Iran will not be able to impose taxes in the Strait of Hormuz as part of any final agreement with the United States, saying that such a regulation would violate international law. “This is an international maritime lane. No country is allowed to impose taxes or fees on an international maritime lane,” Rubio told reporters, adding that he believed “all countries in this region would agree with us.” The American diplomat arrived in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, the first stop on a tour of Gulf countries aimed at reassuring US allies that have been hit by Iranian missiles and drones during the war with Iran, which they opposed. Upon his arrival in Abu Dhabi, the US secretary of state confirmed that the protocol of the agreement with Iran would be discussed in the talks. “This will certainly be discussed during these talks,” he told reporters when asked whether he would seek to reassure Gulf allies, which have been heavily hit by Iranian retaliation for the US-Israel attacks. “Some points that are not in the memorandum of understanding will obviously be discussed, but the memorandum itself will certainly have to be reviewed,” he said. He added that “a careful reading of the memorandum of understanding clearly shows that when we speak, for example, of a complete and final cessation of hostilities throughout the region, this is not possible as long as Iran’s proxies launch missiles and drones from Iraq and engage in terrorist acts, as Hamas and Hezbollah have done.” The US secretary will meet with Emirati authorities tomorrow, Wednesday, before traveling to Kuwait, then to Bahrain for the Gulf Cooperation Council meeting on Thursday.