US Finally Acknowledges Iran's New 'Nuclear' Power

The United States has accused Iran of using the Strait of Hormuz as an ‘economic nuclear weapon’. Therefore, Washington DC will not reopen the strategic waterway under the conditions set by Tehran or with a delay in talks on the nuclear programme, which is suspected to be for military purposes.

This was stated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. For context, Tehran has submitted a new proposal to Washington DC, which includes plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war, while postponing nuclear negotiations to the next stage.

“If what they mean by opening the Strait of Hormuz is just to open it, then fine, open it. But the conditions must be coordinated and obtain their permission. Otherwise, they will blow it up (ships passing through). So I’m sceptical about this latest offer,” he said, as quoted from the Russia Today website, Wednesday, 29 April 2026.

Rubio argued that Iran’s de facto control over the Strait of Hormuz would create a dangerous precedent. He likened the Strait of Hormuz to an economic nuclear weapon to dominate the world.

“This is not the Suez Canal, nor the Panama Canal. This is international waters. And if that is normalised, it will not only create a precedent in the Middle East but the whole world,” Rubio emphasised.

Not only that. He also rejected the notion that Iran has any true moderate figures among its leadership, and convincingly stated that ‘they are all hardliners’.

“There is no doubt in my mind that at some point in the future, if this radical clerical regime remains in power in Iran, they will decide that they want nuclear weapons,” Rubio quipped.

For context, Washington DC has confirmed that President Donald Trump has reviewed Iran’s offer. Some individuals informed about the discussions told the New York Times that the president is not satisfied, and a US official suggested that accepting the offer could appear as rejecting Trump’s victory, given his repeated assertions that Iran’s nuclear programme must be dismantled.

Tehran has stated that it is not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons and rejects US demands to surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and dismantle its nuclear programme.