Rubio: Iran 'Lost Complete Control' of Strait of Hormuz — SkimNews
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- Rubio told reporters in Athens on Oct. 7, 2026 that Iran has 'lost complete control' of the Strait of Hormuz, with oil flows 'almost as much' as before the conflict began.
- Iran's economy has reached 'total and complete freefall' under 'crippling' sanctions — a state 'few countries in the world have been' to, according to Rubio.
- Rubio claimed every dollar Iran receives goes to 'radical Shia clerics' funding Hezbollah and Hamas.
- Rubio declared 'Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, simple, period, end of story,' and that any acceptable agreement must ensure Iran never acquires one.
- Rubio framed Iran's buildup of 'conventional capability so massive that they would become untouchable' as the goal now checked by U.S. pressure.
Why it matters: Rubio publicly defined the conflict as a U.S. win — strait open, Iran's economy in unprecedented freefall, conventional buildup checked. His explicit red line for any deal is permanent denial of a nuclear weapon, and his characterization of Iran's leverage as collapsed frames Tehran's negotiating position as weakened.
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