Conflict & Security
Rubio says Iran is using Hormuz as leverage and urges others to help
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said late Sunday that Iran was using the Strait of Hormuz as leverage in the ongoing Middle East conflict. Speaking to reporters before traveling to the Philippines for a meeting of foreign ministers with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Rubio said some people in Iran wanted to control the strait and use it against the world. Rubio said the United States would continue taking action to protect global shipping. He said other countries should increase pressure and help carry the burden, including through hardware or financial support.
Update
Rubio said the United States would continue acting to protect global shipping.
Rubio said other countries should help carry the burden by providing hardware or finances.
Rubio made the comments before traveling to the Philippines for a meeting of foreign ministers with ASEAN.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 02:12:45 UTC.
Update
Rubio said Iran was using Hormuz as leverage.
Rubio called on other countries to step up.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 01:57:28 UTC.
Update
Iran's Guards described the halted vessels as two oil tankers.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 01:49:44 UTC.
Update
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said four ships intended to disrupt and leave the Strait of Hormuz by an unsafe route.
The Guards said two of the ships had an accident and were stopped in place.
The Guards said the two other ships abandoned their journey.
The Guards accused what they called American terrorists of supporting the ships.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 July 2026 at 10:25:47 UTC.
Update
The new item says Iran stopped two ships trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 July 2026 at 10:14:04 UTC.
Update
The Guards said the four ships were stopped in the past hours.
The Guards described the ships as violating ships.
The Guards said the ships were trying to pass through the strait with support from what they called the terrorist US army.
The Guards said the ships were stopped during a combined missile and drone operation.
Source note: AFP news report published on 17 July 2026 at 23:22:52 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The supplied source did not include an Iranian response to Rubio's comments.
Source
AFP news report published on .