Washington DC, April 27 -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday (local time) strongly criticised attempts by Iran to regulate or monetise the passage of vessels through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, warning that such actions would not be accepted by Washington and amount to an illegitimate claim over an international waterway.

In an interview with Fox News, Rubio said the United States would reject any effort to "normalise" a system in which Iran dictates access to one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints.

"If what they mean by opening the Straits is 'Yes, the straits are open as long as you coordinate with Iran. Get our permission, or we'll blow you up and pay us.' That's not opening the Strait. That is an interna...