Marco Rubio says that Iran has “lost total control” over the Strait of Hormuz

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday, October 7, in Athens, that Iran had “lost total control” of the Strait of Hormuz and that the country’s economy was in “total and complete free fall.”

According to the U.S. official, the strait is open, and the flow of oil has returned to nearly its pre-conflict level. Rubio argued that this demonstrates Tehran’s loss of control over one of the most important maritime routes for transporting oil.

The statements came amid sanctions imposed on Iran, which the U.S. secretary of state described as “devastating.” He said the Iranian economy was heading toward a situation rarely seen worldwide and accused the authorities in Tehran of using financial resources to support Hezbollah and Hamas.

Rubio reiterated the United States’ firm position on Iran’s nuclear program. He said Iran cannot possess a nuclear weapon and that any agreement acceptable to Washington must guarantee that Tehran will never obtain such weapons. The U.S. official also claimed that Iran sought to develop such a large conventional military capability that it would become impossible to reach.