US Secretary of State Claims Strait of Hormuz Will Be Opened After US-Israel War Ends

Washington D.C. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed in an interview with Al Jazeera that the Strait of Hormuz will be opened by any means necessary after the conclusion of the US-Israeli war.

In a special interview conducted on Monday, Rubio stated that messages are being exchanged with Iran through direct US-Iranian talks or mediation. 'Specifically, there are some direct dialogues taking place mainly through mediators between some individuals within Iran and those associated with the United States,' he said.

The world's oil market has been significantly affected as the Strait of Hormuz is virtually shut down. Since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, discussions about the possibility of the US sending ground troops have been increasing. He reiterated that the Trump administration's priority is diplomacy and that diplomacy and results are always desired. 'We could have done this sooner,' he said.

The Trump administration had engaged in indirect talks to control Iran's nuclear program. Talks failed due to the 12-day Israel-Iran war last June, after which US attacks targeted Iran's nuclear facilities. A second phase of diplomatic efforts was underway when the current war began. The US desired a change of regime in Iran.

In the first day of the US-Israel attack, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was assassinated. Following Khamenei's death, his second son, Mojtaba Khamenei, became the Supreme Leader.

Since Khamenei is as hardline as his father, the US goal was not achieved even after Khamenei was killed. The US is unclear about how decisions are being made within Iran after Mojtaba took over. Rubio stated that the problem lies with the Iranian rulers and that the US will only accept a scenario where there are Iranian rulers with different views and perspectives for the future.