U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that the United States will not allow Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz to become a “new normal,” emphasizing a return to open navigation after recent hostilities saw Iran attack commercial vessels and U.S. forces in the critical energy corridor.
Rubio, speaking at a White House briefing on Tuesday, outlined Washington’s goal to restore the waterway to its pre-conflict state. “Our preference is for these straits to be opened to the way they’re supposed to be opened, back to the way it was,” he said.
The strait, a linchpin for global oil trade, has seen traffic plummet since the escalation, with over 1,550 vessels currently trapped in the Persian Gulf, disrupting supply chains and driving fuel prices higher.
The U.S. has shifted to a defensive posture with the launch of “Project Freedom,” an initiative to safeguard commercial ships through the strait. Described by Rubio as a “protective bubble,” the operation has already escorted two U.S. vessels with Navy destroyers. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking at the Pentagon, called it a “direct gift from the United States to the world,” asserting that Iran’s attempts to block the route amount to “international extortion.”
Despite a fragile ceasefire in place since April 8, Iran has continued to provoke, firing at commercial ships nine times, seizing two container vessels, and attacking U.S. forces over 10 times, according to Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. These actions, while below the threshold for resuming major combat, have stranded ships facing dire conditions, with Rubio warning of dwindling food and water supplies aboard.
Tensions spilled over to U.S. allies, with the United Arab Emirates engaging Iranian missiles and drones for the second consecutive day on Tuesday. The UAE reported intercepting 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles, and four drones on Monday alone, underscoring the regional ripple effects of the Hormuz standoff.
Rubio also tied the maritime conflict to broader concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, cautioning that Tehran’s behavior in the strait mirrors the potential global threat of a nuclear-armed Iran. He stressed that any future negotiations must address both uranium enrichment and existing stockpiles, though diplomatic progress remains elusive.
President Trump, commenting from the Oval Office, downplayed Iran’s naval tactics, mocking their use of “little boats” against the U.S. Navy. He hinted at undisclosed red lines for ceasefire violations, stating Iran “knows what not to do.”
The U.S. wrapped up its earlier offensive campaign, Operation Epic Fury, with Rubio confirming its objectives were met. Now, with Project Freedom underway, Washington aims to reassert control over the waterway, a move Hegseth noted has visibly frustrated Tehran, which claimed dominance over the strait but failed to prevent U.S.-escorted transits.
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