Iran says 35 ships exited Strait of Hormuz - Rubio condemns tolls

WorldPolitics
22 May 2026 • 7:19 PM MYT
DPA International
DPA International

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Image from: Iran says 35 ships exited Strait of Hormuz - Rubio condemns tolls
Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, talks at the start of the working session of the NATO foreign ministers' meeting. Topics will include burden-sharing within the alliance and efforts to strengthen deterrence and defense - especially with a view to the NATO summit in Ankara in July. (is associated with: «Iran says 35 ships exited Strait of Hormuz - Rubio condemns tolls») Christoph Soeder/dpa

Iran said 35 ships passed through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz for energy trade in the past 24 hours in coordination with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Iranian state broadcaster reported on Friday.

The armed forces said the vessels included oil tankers, cargo ships and other merchant ships.

Iran's armed forces took control of the Strait of Hormuz shortly after the start of the war on February 28. Traffic through the strait largely came to a standstill following threats, checks and attacks on ships.

This led to sharply rising energy and fuel prices worldwide. Iran also said the strait has since been mined.

Tehran has repeatedly stressed that the Strait of Hormuz is not blocked. In practice, however, shipping companies must coordinate with Iranian contact points and are then only allowed to pass through a corridor near the Iranian coast.

Iran's leadership charges high fees for this. International law experts said such fees violate the right of transit.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in Sweden for a NATO foreign ministers meeting, condemned Iran's attempts at creating a tolling system for the strait.

"I don't know of a country in the world that's in favour of it except Iran, but there's no country in the world that should accept it," he said.

Image from: Iran says 35 ships exited Strait of Hormuz - Rubio condemns tolls
Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, attends the working session of the NATO foreign ministers' meeting. Topics will include burden-sharing within the alliance and efforts to strengthen deterrence and defense - especially with a view to the NATO summit in Ankara in July. (is associated with: «Iran says 35 ships exited Strait of Hormuz - Rubio condemns tolls») Christoph Soeder/dpa