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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during an interview with reporters upon his arrival at Al Bateen Executive Airport in the United Arab Emirates on June 23 (local time). / Courtesy of AFP-Yonhap

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio firmly rejected Iran’s move to impose transit fees on the Strait of Hormuz, declaring the strategic passage an "international waterway," Reuters reported on June 23 (local time).

"The Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway," Rubio told reporters during his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). "No nation has the authority to levy transit fees or surcharges on an international waterway. That is the established international law."

He added, "I don't think there's any need to persuade the Gulf nations on this matter. I believe every country in this region shares the exact same stance as the United States."

The friction comes after Iran agreed to grant free passage through the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days under a recent war-termination memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with the United States. However, Tehran is reportedly reviewing plans to levy various forms of transit fees once that period expires.

To back this initiative, Iran issued a joint statement with Oman on June 23, announcing a joint review into charging for transit services in the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts warn that if implemented, the plan could severely burden Gulf nations bordering the Persian Gulf.

Starting with the UAE, Rubio is scheduled to tour Kuwait and Bahrain through June 25 to continue regional consultations. "Anxieties surrounding the Iran agreement will naturally be on the agenda during our talks with Gulf allies," Rubio said.

Addressing speculation that he plans to ask Gulf nations to contribute to a $300 billion Iranian reconstruction fund outlined in the war-termination MOU, Rubio dismissed the idea as premature. "That issue is a long way off," he noted. "It entirely hinges on how much progress we make on various other security issues moving forward."

According to Reuters, Rubio's current tour of the Gulf states is aimed at reassuring regional allies who suffered severe economic collateral damage from the U.S.-Iran war and continue to harbor deep anxieties over the terms of the war-termination MOU.

                                                                                                            Park Jin-sook