U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that Iran's demand to collect tolls in the Strait of Hormuz threatens the global economy [1].

The warning comes as major global powers converge in Manila for the ASEAN foreign ministers' meetings. Because the Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global energy shipments, any restriction on the freedom of navigation could trigger volatility in international markets and disrupt trade routes.

Rubio arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday [3] to participate in the high-profile diplomatic summit. He was joined in Manila by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi [1, 2]. The ministers gathered in the capital, with arrivals processed through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City [2, 3].

During the proceedings, Rubio said that Iran's proposal to control and collect tolls in the strait would undermine the principle of freedom of navigation [1]. This move would effectively allow Tehran to monetize and regulate the flow of maritime traffic through one of the world's most sensitive waterways [1, 4].

The ASEAN meetings were convened to address regional security and related economic concerns [4]. The presence of the U.S., Russia, and China in Manila highlights the strategic importance of the Southeast Asian bloc in mediating tensions between competing superpowers.

While the primary focus of the summit remains regional stability, the U.S. used the platform to highlight threats to international maritime law [1]. The diplomatic environment remains tense, though Rubio said he is open to meeting with the Russian and Chinese foreign ministers during the ASEAN events [5].

“Iran's demand to control and collect tolls in the Strait of Hormuz would threaten the world’s economy.”

The U.S. is leveraging the ASEAN summit to build a multilateral front against Iranian influence in the Persian Gulf. By framing Iran's toll demands as a threat to the 'global economy' rather than a bilateral dispute, the U.S. seeks to align Southeast Asian nations—who are heavily dependent on open shipping lanes—with American strategic interests in the Middle East.