Iran’s Control of Hormuz Sets Dangerous Precedent, Rubio Warns

[00:00:04]United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned Southeast Asian foreign ministers that allowing one country to control a major international waterway could create consequences far beyond the Middle East. Speaking during an Asian gathering in Manila, Rubio focused on the Strait of Hormuz and the wider principle of freedom of navigation.

[00:00:25]>> If we create a precedent in the Middle East where a nation-state can decide that they are going to control an international waterway, charge a toll, and if you don't pay them, blow up your ships, we have created a very dangerous precedent, which will repeat itself in other parts of the world, including in this region.

[00:00:42]So, what is at stake here is not simply the issue of what's happening in the Straits of Hormuz. It's a very fundamental principle about freedom of navigation. And if that is threatened, then I think the global economy is threatened, and the rules which have underpinned 150 years of international trade and commerce are also threatened.

[00:00:59]And that cannot be allowed to happen.

[00:01:01]>> The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important maritime passages. It connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. A large share of the world's oil and natural gas supplies passes through the narrow waterway, making its security important not only for Middle Eastern countries, but also for major energy importing economies across Asia.

[00:01:23]Rubio told ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations that any attempt by Iran to control passage through the Strait, demands payments from commercial vessels, or threaten ships that refuse to comply could establish a dangerous international example.

[00:01:39]His message was that the issue should not be viewed only as a disagreement between Washington and Tehran.

[00:01:46]He argued that the basic rules governing international waterways could be weakened if such actions were exacted.

[00:01:54]Southeast Asian countries have their own concerns about maritime rights, disputed waters, and access to important shipping routes. Rubio therefore linked the situation in the Middle East to questions that are also closely followed in the Indo-Pacific region.

[00:02:10]The meeting brought together senior representatives from ASEAN member states and international partners. Officials gathered for discussions covering regional security, international trade, energy supplies, and diplomatic cooperation. Images from the event showed ministers standing together for an official group photograph before taking part in formal talks.

[00:02:31]Philippine Foreign Secretary Teresa Lazaro joined foreign ministers and senior representatives from Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, and Myanmar. ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn was also present. Rubio joined the officials on stage before later taking his seat at the meeting.

[00:02:54]During his remarks, Rubio said the United States remained willing to pursue diplomacy with Iran. He stressed that Washington had not closed the door to negotiations and was prepared to consider peaceful settlements when the other side was also ready to engage seriously. Marco Rubio, I just want to reiterate once again, the United States has always committed to diplomacy.

[00:03:16]We are open, open-minded, and always willing to engage negotiated settlements of differences, and that remains true in the case of Iran. This statement presented diplomacy as the preferred path, but Rubio also expressed frustration with earlier discussions. He claimed that agreements had been reached, but that Iran had not fulfilled its commitments. Iran has offered a different view of its dealings with Washington and has repeatedly accused the United States of applying pressure while demanding negotiations on unequal terms. Rubio said progress would depend on both sides treating negotiations seriously. He added that the United States would take steps to protect its interests and those of its partners if diplomacy did not produce results. Marco Rubio, unfortunately, so far, even though we have reached agreements, they have not kept their commitments. And as the president stated earlier today, I guess yesterday, Washington time yesterday, our time here now, the problem we're having right now is that they're not serious about talks. If they're serious, we're serious. If they're not, then we will do what is necessary to protect that our interests and also the interests of our allies.

[00:04:31]The comments came as the situation surrounding the Strait of Hormuz remained a major concern for governments and international shipping companies.

[00:04:40]Any interruption in the movement of commercial vessels could affect fuel availability, transport costs and consumer prices in countries far from the Middle East.

[00:04:50]Southeast Asia is especially sensitive to changes in global energy markets.

[00:04:54]Several of ASEAN members rely heavily on imported oil and gas. Higher shipping costs or reduced energy supplies can place pressure on electricity prices, public transport, manufacturing, and household expenses.

[00:05:08]This explains why the Hormuz issue received significant attention during meetings that were otherwise focused on Southeast Asian affairs.

[00:05:16]Rubio's strongest warning concerned the possibility of establishing a precedent that other could later follow.

[00:05:23]He suggested that accepting control or compulsory charges in one international passage could encourage similar actions elsewhere. Marco Rubio, if we create a precedent in the Middle East where a nation-state can decide that they are going to control an international waterway, charge a toll, and if you don't pay them, blow up your ships, we have created a very dangerous precedent which will repeat itself in other parts of the world, including this region.

[00:05:51]>> [music] >> The reference to other regions appeared especially relevant to ASEAN because Southeast Asia contains some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. The Strait of Malacca, the Singapore Strait, and routes through the South China Sea carry large volumes of international trade. Any prolonged interruption in these waterways could affect supply chains across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Several ASEAN members are also involved in maritime disagreements in the South China Sea.

[00:06:21]>> [music] >> These disputes involve overlapping claims, access to fishing grounds, energy exploration, and to the movement of government and commercial vessels.

[00:06:30]ASEAN has continued discussions with China over a proposed code of conduct intended to reduce risks and manage disagreements peacefully.

[00:06:40]Rubio did not present the Strait of Hormuz only as an energy issue. He described it as a test of the wider international principle that commercial ships should be able to move through recognized international waterways without improper restrictions. Marco Rubio, so what is at stake here is not simply the issue of what's happening in the Strait of Hormuz. It's a very fundamental principle about freedom of navigation. And if that is threatened, then I think the global economy is threatened. And the rules which have underpinned 150 years of international trade and commerce are also threatened, and that cannot be allowed to happen.

[00:07:19]Freedom of navigation is supported by many governments. Although countries sometimes disagree over how international maritime law should be interpreted and enforced, Iran considers the Strait of Hormuz central to its national security and argues that its concerns must be respected. Iranian officials have also accused Washington of increasing instability through military pressure and restrictions on the Iranian economy.

[00:07:45]The United States maintains that the waterway must remain available to international shipping. Washington says no single state should be allowed to use access to the passage as political or economic leverage. These competing positions remain a major obstacle to reaching a lasting settlement. Asian countries generally seek to avoid being drawn into direct rivalry between major powers.

[00:08:09]The organization usually supports dialogue, restraint, and peaceful settlement of disputes. Its members also want reliable access to energy and uninterrupted trade, making stability in both the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific important to their national interests.

[00:08:27]Rubio also sought to assure the ministers that American involvement in the Middle East would not lead Washington to reduce its attention to Southeast Asia.

[00:08:36]Questions have sometimes been raised in the region about whether international crises could shift American diplomatic and security resources away from the Indo-Pacific.

[00:08:47]Marco Rubio, our partnership with each of your countries in the region at large, it's in the national interest of the United States, and we will never abandon it, no matter what else is going on in the world, no matter what our bilateral relations may be with other countries. That assurance was intended to reinforce the United States relationships with Asian members at a time of uncertainty in several regions.

[00:09:11]Washington views Southeast Asia as economically and strategically important because of its population, expanding markets, and central position along major maritime routes. However, Asian members do not always share identical views of the United States, China, Iran, or other international powers.

[00:09:31]Some have close security relationships with Washington, while others maintain stronger political or economic links with Beijing. The organization generally tries to preserve cooperation with all major partners without formally aligning itself with one side.

[00:09:48]>> [music] >> The Manila discussions demonstrated how developments in one region can quickly affect governments elsewhere. The future of the Strait of Hormuz has consequences for fuel supplies, shipping insurance, transport costs, and the wider global economy. It also raises questions about whether international waterways can remain open during periods of political and military tension.

[00:10:10]Rubio's remarks combined a warning with an offer of diplomacy. He said Washington remained willing to negotiate, but he also made clear that the United States would oppose any arrangement that it believed placed an international waterway under the control of one government. The next steps will depend on whether diplomatic contacts can narrow the differences between Washington and Tehran. [music] Asian governments will continue watching closely because a prolonged crisis could directly affect their economies. For Southeast Asia, the central concern is not only who controls the Strait of Hormuz, but whether the rules supporting international shipping can be protected without creating a wider confrontation.