Rubio says no country can charge fees on Strait of Hormuz

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday no country could impose tolls on ships using the Strait of Hormuz, as he began a visit to Gulf allies following recent "encouraging progress" in U.S.-Iran talks held in Switzerland, reported Xinhua, quoting local media.

"It's an international waterway. No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway. That's existing international law," Rubio told reporters upon arrival in Abu Dhabi.

Rubio is due to meet Emirati leaders on Wednesday before traveling to Kuwait and Bahrain, where he will attend a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting.

Several Gulf states hosting U.S. bases came under Iranian retaliatory fire after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) among the hardest hit.

Also on Tuesday, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed regional developments with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty following the signing of a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU).

During a phone call, the two leaders underscored continued coordination to confront current regional challenges to achieve peace, stability, and development, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Iran and the United States signed an MoU last week to end hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, paving the way for high-level talks at Switzerland's Burgenstock resort from Sunday.