HARIANEXPRESS – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio alerted Southeast Asian foreign ministers on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, that any Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz would establish a dangerous precedent. He emphasized that such a development would have serious repercussions extending far beyond the Middle East region. Rubio delivered these significant remarks during an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathering held in Manila.
His comments came as the US Central Command reported a critical development. The command stated it had initiated military strikes against targets in Iran for the 11th consecutive night. These ongoing operations aim to diminish Iran’s capacity to endanger commercial shipping within the crucial waterway.
Iran’s Control Over Hormuz Deemed ‘Dangerous Precedent’
Rubio articulated the potential global impact of allowing Iran to control the Strait of Hormuz. He outlined a scenario where a nation-state might assert control over an international waterway.
Such a state could then demand tolls or even attack ships that refuse to comply. Rubio warned that this would create a highly perilous precedent, one that could easily be replicated in other parts of the world, including the Southeast Asian region.
“If we create a precedent in the Middle East where a nation-state can decide to control an international waterway, charge a toll, and blow up your ships if you don’t pay, we have created a very dangerous precedent that will repeat itself in other parts of the world, including this region,” Rubio told envoys at a Manila gathering of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Freedom of Navigation at Stake
The Secretary of State firmly stated that Iran claims a right to control traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. However, he clarified that this claim is not supported by any existing legal mechanism.
He underscored that a fundamental principle of global commerce, the freedom of navigation, faces a significant threat. Rubio unequivocally declared that such an outcome “cannot be allowed to happen.”
“At its core, it’s very simple. Iran demands the right — which they do not have under any existing legal mechanism — to control the transit of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.
Rubio’s statements align with broader concerns regarding maritime routes vital for global trade. The region is currently grappling with various overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea by China and several ASEAN member states.
Regional Parallels and Diplomacy Efforts
Rubio’s arrival in the Philippines on Tuesday morning coincided with the US condemnation of a recent maritime clash. This incident involved Chinese and Philippine sailors within the contested waters.
He was scheduled to meet his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on Wednesday on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit. Additionally, Rubio planned talks with fellow Quad members, including India, Australia, and Japan, among other nations present at the meeting.
Despite the tensions, the United States remains open to diplomatic engagement with Iran. However, Rubio expressed skepticism regarding Tehran’s commitment to serious discussions.
“The United States remains open and willing to engage in positive and constructive negotiations and discussions, provided that the commitments made are honored,” he said.
Rubio emphasized that the primary challenge is Iran’s perceived lack of seriousness in negotiations. He asserted that if Iran commits to earnest talks, the US will respond in kind, otherwise, the US will act as necessary to safeguard its interests and those of its allies.
“The problem we are currently facing is that they are not taking the negotiations seriously,” Rubio said.
