Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz, calling the closure of the waterway unlawful and illegal.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical chokepoints for global oil shipments. Any prolonged restriction of the lane threatens global energy stability and could trigger an international military response to ensure the free flow of commerce.
Speaking during a press briefing in Washington, D.C., on May 5, 2026, Rubio said "the whole world is against" the attempt by Iran to restrict the waterway [1]. He said the move was a dangerous escalation and warned that closing the Strait of Hormuz would be "suicidal" [2].
Rubio said that the Iranian government is attempting to shift international expectations regarding the legality of the passage. "They're trying to make this some new normal," Rubio said [3].
The comments follow a period of heightened tension between the U.S. and Iran. Rubio's remarks coincided with reports regarding military action against Iranian infrastructure, specifically noting that the U.S. bombed three Iranian nuclear sites [4].
Rubio said that the international community will not accept the restriction of the shipping lane as a permanent state of affairs. He said that the legal status of the Strait remains clear and that the U.S. intends to uphold international law regarding maritime navigation.
“"the whole world is against"”
The U.S. is signaling a zero-tolerance policy toward the disruption of global energy corridors. By framing the closure as 'suicidal' and 'illegal,' the administration is establishing a diplomatic and military justification for intervention should Iran either fully block the strait or continue to harass commercial shipping.
