Revisiting U.S. policy in the Middle East<\/b> after the end of operations in Iran<\/b>, with a focus on security and navigation in the Hormuz Strait<\/b>.<\/p>\n
At a period of heightened geopolitical tension in the Middle East, the US<\/b>appears to be readjusting its strategy following the conclusion of military operations against Iran<\/b>, now turning its attention to restoring stability to critical sea lanes<\/b>. Washington is placing particular emphasis<\/b> on the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz<\/b>, one of the world’s most important energy corridors<\/b>, as developments in the region have raised concerns about the smooth passage of commercial ships<\/b>. At the same time, Marko Rubio’s statements outline a transition phase from direct military engagement<\/b> to a framework of deterrence and diplomatic processes<\/b>, against the backdrop of Tehran’s nuclear program<\/b> and ongoing tensions in the Persian Gulf<\/b>.<\/p>\n
The war operation launched in February<\/b> against Iran<\/b> is over, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio<\/b> said unequivocally on Tuesday, indicating that Washington’s priority now is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz<\/b>.<\/p>\nTurning to Operation Freedom<\/h3>\n
“The operation is over. Epic Rage, as the president informed Congress, is in the past, we have completed that stage,” Rubio said during a White House briefing.<\/p>\n
“Now we’re moving to Operation Freedom,” he added, referring to Trump’s initiative to escort commercial ships through the Strait.<\/p>\n
The White House informed Congress last week that hostilities against Iran have “ended” as the 60-day limit requiring formal approval from lawmakers was reached.<\/p>\n
However, Trump has not ruled out the possibility of resuming the bombing if negotiations break down or if Iran violates the current cease-fire.<\/p>\n
Rubio also said that issues related to Iran’s nuclear program, including its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, would be resolved through negotiations.<\/p>\n
“In terms of negotiations, I think the president has made it clear that part of the process is not just enrichment, but what to do with this material that is somewhere deep,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I don’t want to jeopardize the negotiations, but suffice it to say that the president and the entire team are fully aware of the importance of this issue, which will have to be addressed one way or another,” he concluded.<\/p>\n
The U.S. secretary of state said that about 23.000 sailors have been stranded in the Persian Gulf and have effectively been “left to their fate” as Iran strangles navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a White House briefing Tuesday, he said the U.S. military operation to escort ships into the Strait is intended to help those sailors and ensure their safe passage.<\/p>\n
“They are easy targets, isolated, hungry and vulnerable,” Rubio said. “At least 10 sailors have already lost their lives because of this situation.”<\/p>\n
He said the sailors come from 87 countries and are innocent as they are not involved in the war. <\/p>\n
“It is certainly criminal, but it is also a desperate and destructive move to blockade the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.<\/p>\n
Marko Rubio reiterated that US efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz do not constitute an offensive operation, despite the clashes with Iran in recent days.<\/p>\n
“There is no shooting if we don’t take fire first, OK? We’re not attacking them. We don’t,” he told reporters. “If they pose a threat to our forces, we will shoot down drones, we will shoot down missiles. But this is a defensive action.”<\/p>\n
Marko Rubio said Tehran must return to the negotiating table and accept the terms of the proposed deal.<\/p>\n
“The time has come for Iran to make a reasonable choice. And obviously it’s not easy for them, as there is a fracture in their own power system and, to put it mildly, the top officials of this government are not in their right minds,” Rubio said.<\/p>\n
Rubio said at the press briefing that U.S. representatives are working to get “a level of understanding” about what issues Tehran is willing to negotiate and that an agreement, at least initially, can be limited to basic points of understanding.<\/p>\n
“We don’t need to have a fully articulated agreement from the beginning,” Rubio said, adding: “But there has to be a diplomatic solution that is absolutely clear on the issues they are willing to negotiate, and on the extent and concessions they are prepared to make from the outset, for the talks to be meaningful.”<\/p>\n
He also argued that Tehran is “clearly” seeking to acquire a nuclear weapon and that Iran’s enriched uranium is not intended for peaceful use.<\/p>\n
Marko Rubio said Iran’s claims that it is not seeking to develop nuclear weapons are contradicted by its actions.<\/p>\n
Rubio said Tuesday that Iran must choose between war and peace, noting that peace requires convincing proof that the Iranian government will not seek to acquire nuclear weapons.<\/p>\n
He stressed that the development of advanced centrifuge technology, uranium enrichment and the construction of underground facilities demonstrate that Tehran is not sincere in its commitment not to acquire nuclear weapons.<\/p>\n
At the same time, the US Secretary of State warned that Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz should not be accepted as “normal”, criticizing Tehran for blocking the critical sea route and for trying to impose transit costs on other states.<\/p>\n
“They are trying to turn it into a new normal,” Rubio told the White House. “Under no circumstances can we allow it to become normal that they can blow up merchant ships and place mines in the waters.”<\/p>\n
He also stressed that the Strait should operate as it did before the war.<\/p>\n
“Our preference is that the Strait be opened and operate as it should, as it was before,” he said.<\/p>\n
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