Rubio says Iran has 'lost complete control' of Strait of Hormuz

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that Iran has "lost complete control" of the Strait of Hormuz, as oil flows have nearly recovered to pre-conflict levels. Speaking to reporters in Athens, he also said Tehran's economy is "in total and complete freefall" under sanctions.

Has Iran lost control of the Strait of Hormuz?

According to Rubio, yes. He said the strait is open and oil is flowing out at almost the same level as before the conflict began. In his view, that means Tehran no longer controls the waterway. The claim is the US Secretary of State's assessment, made to reporters in Athens.

"The Straits of Hormuz are open. There's almost as much oil flowing out now as there was before this conflict began. So they've lost complete control of the Straits," Rubio said.

What did Rubio say about Iran's economy?

Rubio argued that "crippling" sanctions have pushed the Iranian economy towards a point "few countries in the world have been". He described the economy as "about to reach a place" of that kind.

He also claimed that every dollar received by the "radical Shia clerics" is spent on Hezbollah and Hamas.

What is the US position on Iran and nuclear weapons?

Rubio said Washington's stance on Iran's nuclear ambitions is fixed. "Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, simple, period, end of story," he said.

He added that any agreement acceptable to the United States "has to be something that ensures that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon." Rubio also argued that Iran "was trying to do" something else: build up a conventional capability "so massive that they would become untouchable".