US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stressed the need for a "plan B" to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if Iran continues to threaten vessels, describing a proposed UK and French mission as suitable for "when no one is shooting." Speaking at a NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Sweden, Rubio said he hoped a deal with Tehran would ensure free passage but warned that if Iran refuses to give up control and enforces tolls, "someone's going to have to go in and do something about it."
Background of the conflict
The Iran conflict has fueled tensions within NATO. President Donald Trump has criticised Britain's reluctance to engage in the war, accusing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of weakness and deriding the Royal Navy. Starmer refused the US unrestricted use of British military bases for attacks on Iran, limiting permission to defensive strikes on missile sites. Tensions have also arisen over the response to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, which was open before the US-Israel offensive against Iran. Tehran's control of the waterway has shocked global economies, including the UK's, and caused a spike in oil prices.
US criticism of European plans
Washington has previously argued that Europe needs the sea route "much more than we do" and that ensuring free transit is "much more their fight than ours." The UK-France led plans to protect shipping after hostilities end have also faced US criticism. The proposed defensive mission would see the UK deploy autonomous mine-hunting equipment, anti-drone systems, and Typhoon jets alongside the destroyer HMS Dragon.
Rubio stated: "We all would love to see an agreement with Iran in which the straits are open and they abandon their nuclear weapons ambitions. But we also have to have a plan B. And plan B is what if Iran refuses to open the straits? What if Iran decides we refuse to open the straits, we're going to own the straits, and we're going to charge tolls for it? At that point, something has to be done about it." He added that countries represented at the meeting are more deeply impacted than the US.
Rubio emphasised the need to consider what to do if Iran keeps the straits closed and sinks ships that disobey. "Then someone's going to have to do something about it. They're not just going to voluntarily reopen the straits in that scenario." He noted that his point received nods and acknowledgements from other attendees.
Regarding the UK-French mechanism, Rubio said it would be useful for clearing mines if Iran reopens the strait. However, he stressed that plan B must address the scenario where Iran refuses, requiring military action. Iran has demanded the right to collect tolls as a precondition for reopening the waterway, which is critical for oil and gas supplies. The UK Foreign Office has been contacted for comment.
