As NATO allies gathered in Sweden, the United States said it’s working on multiple paths to resolve the Iran conflict. While the U.S. claims the two sides are moving closer toward a resolution, Iran denies any negotiations are occurring and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he told NATO allies they need a backup plan if peace talks fail. “What if Iran refuses to open the straits? What if Iran decides we refuse to open the straits, we’re going to own the strait and we’re going to charge tolls for it? OK. At that point, something has to be done about it,” Rubio said.
In recent weeks both the United Kingdom and France have sent aircraft carriers to the region, however NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte would not openly talk about how the alliance could assist the situation.