Rubio once called the Holmuze Channel “unreal”

ON 14 JULY, ACCORDING TO CNN, TRUMP HAD INDICATED THAT THE UNITED STATES MIGHT IMPOSE A 20 PER CENT SAFETY TOLL ON SHIPS PASSING THROUGH THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ. BUT JUST LAST MONTH, UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF STATE RUBIO CLAIMED THAT IT WAS “UNWORKABLE” TO CHARGE FEES FOR THIS CRITICAL ROUTE. DURING A VISIT TO THE THREE GULF STATES LATE IN JUNE, RUBIO REPEATEDLY STATED THAT THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ WAS AN INTERNATIONAL WATERWAY AND THAT NO FEES SHOULD BE CHARGED TO SHIPS. HE SAID: “WHETHER YOU CALL IT A FEE, A TOLL OR A DONATION, IT IS A TOLL IF YOU HAVE TO PAY TO PASS.” HE ALSO QUESTIONED HOW THE FEE MECHANISM WAS IMPLEMENTED: “WHAT IF A SHIP REFUSES TO PAY? IT'S NOT LIKE A ROAD CHARGE. IT'S NOT JUST A TICKET. IF YOU FIRE ON A SHIP AND SINK IT, THE OTHER SHIPS WILL NOT DARE TO CROSS AGAIN. SUCH A MECHANISM WOULD NOT ONLY BE ILL-ADVISED, BUT WOULD NEVER BE FEASIBLE.” PREVIOUSLY, IRAN INDICATED THAT IT WOULD NOT CHARGE A “TRANSIT FEE” FOR THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, BUT STATED THAT IT MIGHT CHARGE A FEE FOR RELATED SERVICES PROVIDED。