WASHINGTON, Friday, May 8, 2026 (WNP): U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday issued a stern warning to Iran against targeting American forces or naval assets, while defending Washington’s military response in the Strait of Hormuz and calling for international action to protect freedom of navigation.

Speaking on rising tensions in the Gulf region, Rubio said the United States acted in self-defence after Iranian forces allegedly targeted American naval vessels and drones.

“If you fire at a U.S. Navy ship, what are we supposed to do? … Of course we fired back at them. They were shooting at us,” Rubio said.

He maintained that any threat against Americans or U.S. military assets would trigger a forceful response.

“The red line is clear. If they threaten Americans, they’re gonna get blown up,” he said, adding that the United States would not allow its ships to be attacked in regional waters.

Rubio also accused Iran of attempting to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital international maritime route used for global energy supplies and trade.

“Iran now claims that they own, that they have a right to control an international waterway,” he said, warning that accepting such a claim could set a dangerous global precedent.

The secretary of state said Washington was pursuing diplomatic efforts through the United Nations Security Council to address the situation and prevent further escalation.

He revealed that the United States was working on a UN resolution aimed at preventing Iran from mining or controlling the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring the release of humanitarian aid shipments reportedly trapped in the Persian Gulf.

“We have a resolution at the United Nations that we’re trying to move forward, in which the world and the UN will have an opportunity… to say, we are not going to allow them to mine the straits, we’re not going to allow them to try to control the straits,” Rubio stated.

He added that if countries such as Russia or China veto the resolution, “then you know what the impediment is.”

Rubio reiterated that the United States preferred a diplomatic solution but stressed that freedom of navigation and the protection of American personnel remained non-negotiable.