U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to navigation without obstacles or fees.
This stance underscores the strategic importance of the waterway for global energy security, as any disruption to the strait could trigger immediate volatility in international oil markets and disrupt trade routes.
Speaking at the White House Brady Press Briefing Room in Washington, D.C., on May 5, 2026 [1], Rubio said the necessity of maintaining freedom of navigation despite ongoing tensions with Iran. He said that the straits must remain open in one way or another without impediments or charges [2].
The Secretary of State said that the U.S. government views the unobstructed flow of maritime traffic as a critical priority. He said that the U.S. is prepared to maintain a military presence to safeguard these interests.
"We affirm that U.S. forces will remain in a state of readiness in the Strait of Hormuz," Rubio said [3].
The statement comes amid a broader geopolitical effort to prevent regional escalations from impacting global commerce. By explicitly mentioning the removal of fees and obstacles, the U.S. is signaling that it will not accept any unilateral attempts to monetize or restrict access to the waterway.
Rubio's remarks align with long-standing U.S. policy regarding international straits, where the right of transit passage is protected under international law. The commitment to readiness suggests that diplomatic efforts will be backed by a visible military deterrent to discourage any attempts to close the strait [3].
“The straits must remain open in one way or another without impediments or charges”
The U.S. is reinforcing its role as the guarantor of maritime security in the Persian Gulf. By linking the absence of 'fees' to the requirement for open navigation, the administration is preemptively countering potential Iranian efforts to impose tolls or restrictive transit regimes. The explicit mention of military readiness indicates that the U.S. views a credible deterrent as the primary mechanism to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz does not become a tool for political leverage.
