U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said June 25 that Gulf nations provide zero support [1] for any toll system in the Strait of Hormuz.

The statement underscores a critical diplomatic front against Iranian efforts to monetize one of the world's most vital maritime chokepoints. Any shift in the status of free navigation in the strait could disrupt global energy markets and invite wider regional instability.

Rubio said the comments during a tour of the Persian Gulf region, which included meetings in Bahrain [2]. He described the idea of Iranian-imposed fees as a fantasy and said that such a move would be met with firm opposition. According to reports, the potential windfall for Iran from such a toll could reach $40 billion [3].

"If you are charging money to use the straits, we won't support it. We won't. We won't tolerate it. We won't allow," Rubio said [4].

The Secretary of State said that the United States views any attempt to impose fees as a direct threat to the principle of free navigation. He said that the precedent set by Iranian tolls on ships traversing the Strait of Hormuz would spread to other waterways "like a contagion" [5].

The U.S. position aligns with the interests of Gulf allies who rely on the strait for the export of oil and gas. By confirming that regional support for a toll is non-existent [1], Rubio said that the U.S. and its partners intend to maintain the current international legal framework governing the waters.

“"If you are charging money to use the straits, we won't support it."”

This diplomatic push reflects a strategic effort by the U.S. to prevent Iran from gaining economic leverage over global shipping lanes. By securing a public consensus among Gulf states, the U.S. isolates Iran's position and reinforces the legal norm of 'innocent passage,' ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains an open international waterway rather than a revenue source for Tehran.