Rubio says US will not accept Iranian tolls on Hormuz
Washington's top diplomat insisted Tuesday that the U.S. would not accept any attempt to impose tolls or fees on Strait of Hormuz, the key waterway where the U.N. said it would begin evacuating thousands of sailors stranded by the Middle East war
The U.S. and Iran have signed a preliminary deal to halt the war, and concluded a first round of talks in Switzerland as part of a 60-day negotiation period to settle outstanding issues like sanctions relief and the fate of Tehran's nuclear programme.
An Iranian blockade that began early in the conflict choked off maritime traffic through the Hormuz strait — sending global oil prices surging — but crossings have begun to rise again since the U.S.-Iran deal was inked.
Iran has repeatedly maintained it will retain control over the waterway, including on Tuesday, when it and Oman said in a joint statement that they would study the administration of the trade route and the costs to be charged for services provided, insisting on their sovereignty over the strait.
