Secretary of State Marco Rubio has publicly condemned Iran for threatening to destroy commercial vessels in international waters, calling the behavior illegal under international law and warning that tolerating it would set a dangerous precedent for global trade.
Rubio described Iran’s actions as “economic arson” and piracy. The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, is one of the most important chokepoints in global commerce. Before the current escalation, roughly 130 ships passed through daily. Now, only a handful transit under military protection.
The human and economic toll
At least ten civilian sailors have been killed in incidents tied to Iranian attacks on vessels in the strait.
Hundreds of commercial ships are stranded, unable or unwilling to navigate waters where Iran has reportedly placed mines and launched direct attacks on shipping. Rubio made his remarks during strategic briefings on May 5 and May 24, emphasizing that the US cannot allow these threats to become normalized.
