“Rubio says US will keep Strait of Hormuz open,” Iran International, 3-31-26.  “US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States will ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open and warned NATO may need to be re-examined after some allies denied airspace and basing access.  “The Strait of Hormuz will be open. When this operation is over, it will be open, and it’ll be open one way or another,” Rubio said in an interview with Al Jazeera. “It will be open because Iran agrees to abide by international law… Or a coalition of nations… will make sure that it’s open. One way or the other, it’s going to be open,” he added. .. He also criticized NATO allies over restrictions on US operations, saying, “We have countries like Spain… denying us the use of their airspace and bragging about it.” “If NATO is just about us defending Europe… but them denying us basing rights when we need them, that’s not a very good arrangement,” he said, adding the alliance “is going to have to be re-examined.”

This is plain wrong.  First Spain, then France, the Italy, refusing different types of landing or flyovers.  And also refusing to face up to the pirates holding Hormuz.  Maybe this is why it took 47 years (since 1979) without a country truly standing up to the Ayatollahs.  See “Trump criticizes France over blocking flights to Israel,” and “Italy denies landing permission for US military aircraft – Reuters,” Iran International, 3-31-26.

A problem long in the making, and should be quickly undone if UAE willing.  “Dozens of IRGC-linked money changers arrested in UAE,” Iran International, 3-31-26.

“Over 4,700 security forces killed in US-Israeli strikes on Iran,” Iran International, 3-31-26.  “At least 4,770 members of the IRGC, Basij, and police have been killed since the start of the war in attacks by Israel and the United States, Iran International has learned. The sources said 20,880 others have also been injured.”