Rubio pushes postwar plan for Strait of Hormuz after meeting G7 allies skeptical about Iran strategy

Rubio struck a softer tone, saying the U.S. would seek international cooperation on a plan to keep the strait open after hostilities end. Trump, as part of an evolving rhetorical approach, warned as recently as last week that the U.S. would "obliterate" Iran's power plants if the waterway were not reopened within 48 hours, though he has extended that deadline until April 6.

Rubio emerged from discussions with fellow diplomats with a longer-term message about the conclusion of the war, when he said the U.S. and allies will face a challenge in keeping the strait open. He cautioned that Iran may seek to set up a toll on the waterway — where 20% of the world's oil typically passes — an act that he said could cause significant economic damage to many nations around the globe.

"Not only is this illegal, it's unacceptable. It's dangerous to the world," Rubio told reporters of the possibility that Iran would seek to restrict traffic through the strait. "And it's important that the world have a plan."

France says the Iran war 'is not ours' as allies call for diplomacy

Most of America's closest allies have greeted the Iran war with deep skepticism, which was on display as the G7 foreign ministers gathered at a historic 12th century abbey in Vaux-de-Cernay, outside Paris, even as they urged a diplomatic solution. Four weeks into the war that the U.S. and Israel launched, the allies face concerns about instability in the oil markets and uncertainty over potential negotiations to end the crisis.

Several EU countries, now grappling with economic consequences of the war, have said they were not consulted by the U.S. before it launched its military actions in Iran. French Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin said Friday that the war "is not ours," adding that France's position is strictly defensive.

"The aim is truly this diplomatic approach, which is the only one that can guarantee a return to peace," she said on Europe 1 and CNews.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Britain also favored a diplomatic path, acknowledging differences with the United States.

"We have taken the approach of supporting defensive action, but also we've taken a different approach on the offensive action that has taken place as part of this conflict," she said.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said he made "our position clear, namely that there is certainly a readiness on Germany's part to play a role after the end of hostilities when it comes to ensuring the security of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz."

He said his interest is "to broaden what we have as a common basis" regarding the conflict in the Middle East.

Rubio seemed to play down the potential for a widening conflict, saying the U.S. was capable of achieving its objectives without ground troops.

G7 diplomats agree to call for halt to attacks on civilians

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said after the meeting that the group adopted a declaration calling for the "immediate cessation" of attacks against civilian populations and infrastructure during the Iran war.

"Nothing justifies deliberately targeting civilians during armed conflicts, nor carrying out attacks against diplomatic facilities," Barrot told reporters, saying the declaration "also reaffirms the absolute necessity of permanently restoring free and safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz."

Echoing Wadephul's comments, Barrot said that once U.S. military objectives have been achieved, escort missions could "provide the necessary security so that ship traffic can resume as quickly as possible."

"You can clearly see that with each passing day, the situation is worsening due to the lack of ship traffic from the Persian Gulf to the rest of the world," he said.

Barrot added that Rubio, like others in the discussions, "wants that once the United States' military objectives have been achieved, maritime security and freedom of navigation can be ensured in the Strait of Hormuz, as in all international waters around the world."

Trump's criticism of NATO allies makes Iran war a harder sell for Rubio

Trump has complained that other NATO countries were not stepping up to help against Iran.

"We are very disappointed with NATO because NATO has done absolutely nothing," Trump said during a Cabinet meeting Thursday.

Of the G7 nations — besides the U.S. — Britain, Canada, France, Germany and Italy are members of the trans-Atlantic military alliance. Japan is the only one that is not.

"We're there to protect NATO, to protect them from Russia. But they're not there to protect us," Trump added.

Rubio, however, said the U.S. is "not asking for anybody to join the war" against Iran but that the countries most affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz "should be willing to do something about it, and we'll help them" after the conflict ends.

Russia's war in Ukraine also was a major topic at the G7 meeting, with U.S.-brokered talks persisting but making no breakthroughs and allies concerned that the new conflict in the Middle East will divert U.S. attention from a commitment to Ukraine.

Wadephul, the German foreign minister, said he made clear at the meeting that "there must be no cuts when it comes to maintaining Ukraine's defense capability."

Rubio, who chatted briefly with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, also still has work to do to smooth things over with allies like those in Europe that have faced criticism or outright threats from Trump and others in his Republican administration.

The Europeans also are still smarting over Trump's earlier demands to take over Greenland from NATO ally Denmark.