U.S. expands diplomatic outreach to Austria and Greece amid Iran conflict

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz threatens global oil supplies and prices, creating significant political and economic pressure on the U.S. administration ahead of the November midterm elections.

• •The U.S. and Iran are currently competing for control of the Strait of Hormuz, a corridor through which one-fifth of the world's oil passes.
• •Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with the Austrian foreign minister on Tuesday and the Greek foreign minister on Wednesday.
• •Both the Austrian and Greek foreign ministers spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday following their meetings with Rubio.
• •The U.S. State Department maintains that Rubio did not request these countries to act as intermediaries or pass messages to Iran.
• •The U.S. administration's primary stated goals are to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ensure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon.
• •Austria has offered to serve as a venue for potential future talks between the U.S. and Iran.
• •Greece is involved due to its status as a major maritime nation with significant shipping interests in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
• •Iran claims the U.S. and Israel violated an interim deal signed in June, leading to the current disruption of the strait.
• •The U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, 2015, which preceded the current closure of the strait.