Iran violated memorandum by attacking commercial shipping, US says
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected Iran’s interpretation of the Islamabad memorandum of understanding, saying it did not authorize Tehran to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
“The MOU does not give them the right to launch drones and missiles against commercial shipping vessels,” Rubio told reporters on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit.
“It doesn’t say you’re allowed to launch missiles and drones against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. They chose to violate that.”
His comments came after Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf cited the memorandum’s provision that Iran would use its “best efforts” to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels, saying “the era of one-sided deals is over.”