ABU DHABI: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that no country has the authority to impose tolls or fees on the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran seeks to generate revenue from the strategically important waterway.
“It’s an international waterway. No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway. That’s existing international law,” he said in Abu Dhabi.
“I don’t think we have anybody to convince around here in that regard. I think all the countries in this region would agree with us.”
SECRETARY RUBIO: “No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway.” pic.twitter.com/eFAbLRtOIc
— Department of State (@StateDept) June 23, 2026
Marco Rubio arrived in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, marking the first stop of his tour to three Gulf countries.
Rubio is scheduled to meet Emirati leaders on Wednesday before travelling to Kuwait and then Bahrain, where he will attend a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Oil prices tumbling
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said global oil prices were falling after a record 19 million barrels of oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz in a single day, after the United States and Iran on Monday agreed on a 60-day roadmap towards a final agreement during Pakistan and Qatar mediated talks in Switzerland.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 23, 2026
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed that 19 million barrels of oil flowed through the strategic waterway on Monday. “19 million barrels of oil flowed out of the Hormuz Strait yesterday, an all-time record. Oil prices are tumbling down, and the world is a much safer place!!!” the US President wrote.
US, Iran agree 60-day roadmap for final deal
Mediators Pakistan and Qatar on Monday released a joint statement after the high-level US-Iran direct talks in Switzerland. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir attended the talks as mediators. The Qatari Prime Minister also attended the talks as mediator.
According to a joint statement issued on Monday, the US and Iran have agreed on a 60-day roadmap towards a final agreement following the conclusion of high-level talks in Switzerland mediated by Pakistan and Qatar.
The first session of negotiations under the framework of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding concluded at the Burgenstock resort, bringing together representatives of Iran, the United States, Pakistan and Qatar.
The mediating countries described the Lake Lucerne Summit as having been conducted in a “positive and constructive atmosphere” and said “encouraging progress” had been achieved, including the establishment of a mechanism for further technical negotiations.
