He added that the United States would bear the primary burden of the mission, but noted that other countries had quietly offered assistance. “This is a favor to the world,” he said, noting that many of the stranded vessels belong to foreign nations now facing shortages of food, water, and essential supplies aboard ships stuck at sea.
The emphasis on shipping reflects what Rubio suggested is now the Administration’s immediate priority: breaking Iran’s effective blockade of the strait, which has driven up global energy prices and rattled markets. He downplayed the direct impact on American consumers, even as gasoline prices have surged.
“If Iran had a nuclear weapon and they decided to close the [Strait of Hormuz] and make our gas prices like $9 a gallon or $8 a gallon, we wouldn’t be able to do anything about it, because they have a nuclear weapon,” he said.
“They would do exactly to the world with a nuclear weapon what they’re doing now with the strait,” he added, suggesting that the Iranian regime could permanently hold global energy markets hostage.
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