US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared on Friday, 22 May that any attempt by Iran to impose transit tolls in the Strait of Hormuz is 'simply unacceptable and cannot happen,' warning that such a precedent would trigger similar claims at five other critical maritime chokepoints worldwide. Rubio made the remarks during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden.

The Hormuz Toll Threat

Rubio underscored the global stakes, arguing that if Iran were permitted to levy tolls on Hormuz traffic, other nations would swiftly demand the same right at strategic waterways across the globe. 'Why shouldn't countries around the world say we want to do that too?' he said, stressing that the strait is 'vital and crucial' not only for NATO members but also for nations in the Indo-Pacific.

He further alleged that Iran is actively lobbying Oman to join what he described as a joint toll system. 'There is no country in the world that should accept such a claim,' Rubio stated, adding that he was unaware of any nation — other than Iran itself — that had publicly backed the proposal.

UN Resolution and Security Council Dynamics

Rubio highlighted a resolution sponsored by Bahrain currently under deliberation at the United Nations Security Council, calling it the most co-sponsored text ever submitted to the body. However, he warned that 'a couple of Security Council member states' are considering a veto, which he described as a 'regrettable outcome.'

'We will see if the United Nations still works. It is there that we will try to achieve a concrete result,' he said, expressing confidence that most NATO allies present had already signed on as co-sponsors, or would do so shortly.

Iran Nuclear Talks: Cautious Progress

On the parallel diplomatic track, Rubio offered a measured assessment of ongoing negotiations with Tehran. 'Slight progress has been made. I don't want to exaggerate, but there has been some movement, and that is positive,' he said. He reiterated Washington's non-negotiable red line: 'Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon. This regime can never have nuclear weapons. And to ensure that, we will have to address the issue of enrichment.'

US Military Posture in Europe: Not a Punishment

Addressing concerns among European allies about a potential drawdown of US forces on the continent, Rubio was emphatic that any review is driven by strategic necessity, not political retribution. 'This is not a punitive measure,' he affirmed, framing it as a routine reassessment of global force deployment. He said the process would ultimately yield 'very positive and productive' outcomes through close collaboration with allies, while noting that 'the relationship must be beneficial for all involved parties.'

Setting the Stage for a Historic NATO Summit

Rubio cast the Helsingborg gathering as preparatory groundwork for what he called 'probably one of the most important leaders' summits in NATO history.' He acknowledged that President Donald Trump's 'disappointment with some of our NATO allies and their response to our operations in the Middle East' would need to be addressed at the leaders' level, though not at the current foreign ministers' meeting. The summit is widely expected to be a defining moment for the alliance's cohesion and burden-sharing debate.