Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Wednesday that Iran has lost total control of the Strait of Hormuz and that its economy is in a severe freefall due to crippling sanctions. Speaking in Athens during a diplomatic tour, Rubio emphasized that the shipping route remains open and that oil flow is largely steady. He reiterated that Iran cannot be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon and asserted that Tehran’s past strategy involved building an overwhelming conventional capability to become untouchable. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance appeared to shift the administration’s stance on Iranian enrichment during an interview published Tuesday by Reuters, suggesting that Tehran should make meaningful reductions to its enrichment capacity and avoid producing highly enriched fuel, rather than insisting on a total cessation as previously demanded by President Trump. These developments coincide with the three-year mark since the October 7, 2023, attacks, with memorials held across Israel for victims and released hostages as the region continues to grapple with the aftermath of ongoing conflicts involving Hamas, the Houthis in Yemen, and escalating tensions with Iran.
Source: cbsnews.com
