‘G7 nations should back reopening of Hormuz’

AFP | Joint

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Base Andrews, US US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said yesterday that it was in the “interest” of all G7 nations to push for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz currently blocked by Iran.

“It’s in their interest to help,” Rubio said shortly before heading to France where he will attend a meeting of G7 foreign ministers outside Paris today.

It is Rubio’s first trip abroad since the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on February 28.

Rubio, who skipped the first day of G7 talks yesterday, said there was “progress” in talks with Iran, but refused to speculate on when or how they might end.

“There are intermediary countries that are passing messages, and progress has been made,” Rubio said, calling it an “ongoing process.”

Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan - the other G7 members - yesterday signaled their hope for a diplomatic solution to the situation in Iran, which has rippled through the global economy due to the virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Around a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the waterway in peacetime.

US President Donald Trump said earlier yesterday at a cabinet meeting that Tehran was more keen to make a deal than he was, noting that the military operation was ahead of schedule and reiterating his criticism of NATO.