Marco Rubio Rejects Iranian Toll Plans for Strait of Hormuz; New Frictions Emerge in US-Iran Talks

Marco Rubio Rejects Iranian Toll Plans for Strait of Hormuz; New Frictions Emerge in US-Iran Talks

Tehran, June 24, 2026 [VoM News]: A fresh schism has opened up between Washington and Tehran, days after the two sides held negotiations in an effort to bring months of fighting and regional tension to a halt.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected claims by Iran that it would charge fees on vessels using the Strait of Hormuz in remarks made during an visit to the UAE. He said that the strait was an “international waterway that must be kept open for free trade”.

 

Rubio was speaking after Tehran and its neighbour, Oman, announced that they would look into the administration and potential fees to be applied in future along the waterway – while reiterating their sovereignty over it.

 

The strait will not go back to how it was pre-war, Tehran says.

 

It comes amid a process to calm long-standing tensions and brings the process of 60 days of diplomatic negotiations launched following an interim agreement signed between Iran and the US to cease hostilities. During this process Iran and US agreed that sanctions will be eased, along with discussions to tackle Iran’s controversial nuclear plan, as well as Iran’s maritime activities.

Despite ongoing tensions maritime traffic has slowly begun to resume in the Strait of Hormuz, albeit significantly slower than before. Thousands of sailors have also begun to be evacuated by the maritime agency of the UN after having been stranded during the earlier interruption.

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The Islamic Republic stated that its ballistic missile plans would not be up for negotiations, as president Masoud Pezeshkian insisted on missiles to ensure his country’s security.

 

Differences have also been voiced on the question of nuclear inspectors as US president Donald Trump had claimed a wide agreement had been reached on future inspections, which Iran strongly refuted.

However, the mediators from Qatar and Pakistan say that there is a roadmap and the aim is for both parties to achieve a comprehensive deal in just two months. The initial understanding involves Washington lifting some sanctions against the Islamic Republic and freeing up some Iranian funds.

 

There is also diplomacy ongoing elsewhere in the region in order to bring tensions down, most notably talks between Iran and its neighbouring states, and Lebanon with the State of Israel in order to try and reduce the chances of hostilities resuming between the two states.