US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the US was striking Iran over Tehran’s ‘behaviour’ in the Strait of Hormuz, but insisted the US was open for diplomacy when asked if the MoU between the countries was ‘dead’ in Washington DC on Monday.
“They attacked three ships. I think that was last Friday or Saturday. So I mean, their behaviour has to change in order for ours to change.”
A reporter then asked if the US was back at a ‘full-scale’ war against Iran and if the agreement reached between the sides had collapsed.
“They’re not complying with it. I mean, the Straits are supposed to be open, free of tolls, free of attack, free of all the things they’re doing against these ships. So they can’t have an MOU that’s alive if they’re violating the terms of it,” Rubio stated, adding that the US remained open for diplomacy.
He said that other countries should join the US in ‘protecting’ commercial shipping in the strait.
“The Straits of Hormuz are international waterway, and they continue to launch against ships in that international waterway. Other countries should join us in this effort, but the United States is involved not just in protecting those ships, but in targeting the places that they use to launch these missiles and drones. So that’s what you’re seeing,” he added.
Addressing President Donald Trump’s suggestion of imposing a 20% toll on cargo passing through the strait, Rubio said the president’s remarks reflected the fact that the United States was bearing the cost of protecting global shipping.
“It is not the United States’ job to protect shipping for the entire planet forever.”
Rubio also paid tribute to US service members killed in the region, confirming that US soldiers were killed in strikes on Jordan while another service member died in Iraq in an incident unrelated to combat.
He went on to describe his meeting with Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun as ‘very positive’ and said lasting stability depended on strengthening the Lebanese government to replace Hezbollah.
This follows the latest escalation between the US and Iran, with Washington launching a series of air strikes against Iran over the past few days, whilst Tehran has responded by targeting US bases in the region.
On June 17, Iran and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding that included a ceasefire and the start of a first round of negotiations in Switzerland with the aim of reaching a final agreement.
However, the two sides have continued to exchange strikes and accusations of violating the memorandum of understanding.
Source: Viory
