Rubio says Iran’s economy is being crippled as it loses control of Strait of Hormuz
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- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claims Iran has lost control of the Strait of Hormuz and can no longer export oil through the waterway.
- Rubio says Washington is maintaining a defensive posture in the strait while working to cripple Iran’s economy.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has claimed that Iran has lost control of the Strait of Hormuz, saying the country’s economy is being crippled amid mounting military and economic pressure.
Speaking in remarks reported by Breitbart, Rubio said Iran had sought to build a “conventional shield” consisting of tens of thousands of missiles and drones to protect its ability to pursue a nuclear weapons program.
He argued that Tehran aimed to reach a point where it could announce the start of nuclear weapons production while ensuring that other countries would be unable to prevent it.
Rubio claimed that Iran no longer has an air force or naval force and has lost a significant portion of its air defenses. He added that large areas of Iranian territory remain vulnerable to potential future strikes if necessary.
The US secretary of state did not provide further details in the reported remarks to substantiate those assessments.
Strait of Hormuz remains central to economic pressure
Rubio also claimed that Iran had lost control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for global oil supplies.
He said between 13 million and 14 million barrels of oil had passed through the strait daily on their way to international markets over the previous 10 days. Rubio further claimed that Iran was the only country unable to transport even a single barrel of oil through the waterway.
He said the United States was currently maintaining a defensive posture in the Strait of Hormuz while carrying out what he described as “excellent work” in crippling Iran’s economy.
The remarks underscore Washington’s focus on restricting Iran’s economic capacity and maritime activity. However, Rubio’s claims about Iran’s military capabilities and control of the strait have not been independently established in the information provided.
