Washington, March 27 (NationPress) - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged international allies, including G7 nations, to enhance their engagement regarding the threats posed to maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that such disruptions represent a serious challenge to international law and global energy security.

“It’s in their interest to help,” Rubio stated during a press briefing at Joint Base Andrews, mentioning that “other nations rely more heavily on fuel shipments from there than we do.”

When asked about specific requests, he refrained from providing details, indicating that such decisions would be determined by military officials. “Those specifics, I’ll leave for the Department of War to clarify,” he explained.

Rubio emphasized that the responsibility for securing this crucial waterway should not rest solely on the United States. “It’s not assistance for us… very little of our energy comes through the Strait of Hormuz. The global community has a significant interest in this, and they should take action,” he remarked.

The Secretary expressed that the situation could quickly become stable if Iran changed its conduct. “It could be fully operational tomorrow if Iran ceases its threats to global shipping, which is outrageous and violates international law,” he stated.

Rubio also confirmed ongoing indirect diplomatic communications with Iran, facilitated by intermediary nations. “There are intermediary countries that are transmitting messages, and progress has been made. Some tangible advancements have been achieved,” he noted.

He highlighted early signs of improvement, stating, “there’s an increasing volume of energy being transported through the strait — not as much as should be, but there has been some uptick.”

However, Rubio urged caution against excessive optimism. “That’s an ongoing and fluctuating situation and not one we are going to negotiate or discuss publicly,” he commented, adding, “We’ll see how it unfolds. I don’t want to make premature judgments.”

On wider geopolitical strains, Rubio remarked that Russia seems primarily focused on its conflict in Ukraine. “I believe Russia is mainly concentrating on the war it is currently engaged in,” he said, opting not to elaborate further.

He also addressed inquiries regarding US expectations from European allies, reflecting President Donald Trump’s concerns over equitable burden-sharing. The United States, he stated, has “contributed more to that conflict than any other nation in the world” regarding the situation in Ukraine, despite European leaders sometimes suggesting the conflict does not concern them.

Rubio clarified that his diplomatic efforts would remain centered on US interests. “The individuals I aim to satisfy are the citizens of the United States. That’s who I represent,” he concluded.