STRAIT OF HORMUZ: Iran asserts waterway control as fresh ship attack threatens peace deal
Tehran has reasserted its right to control shipping lanes in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, issuing a stern warning to Gulf states against aligning with the United States.
The development comes just a day after an attack on a commercial vessel near Oman exposed the fragile nature of a preliminary agreement aimed at ending the Iran war.
Responding to what it termed an “interventionist, irresponsible, and provocative” joint statement by the U.S. and six Gulf nations, Iran rejected any pushback against its plans to levy tolls on vessels transiting the strait.
“Safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz cannot be guaranteed under ambiguous arrangements, parallel routes, or decision-making that does not take Iran’s role as a coastal state into account,” Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated via X.
Global energy markets react
Despite a slowdown in maritime traffic and conflicting interpretations of last week’s interim U.S.-Iran deal, global oil prices dipped further on Friday. The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical chokepoint, handling a fifth of the world’s global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies.
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In a significant economic development, shipping data revealed that Saudi Aramco resumed crude loadings at its Ras Tanura terminal—the world’s largest oil port—following a nearly four-month halt due to the conflict. Two Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), each capable of carrying 2 million barrels of oil, were spotted loading at the terminal.
U.S. warns of ‘problems’ ahead
Wrapping up a diplomatic tour of the Gulf to reassure regional allies, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio drew a hard line on maritime security.
“If Iran threatens or blocks ships in the strait, we’re going to have a problem,” Rubio told reporters.
A joint statement from Rubio and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) demanded free and unrestricted navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, an immediate halt to unauthorized tolls or control mechanisms and a lasting peace agreement that tackles Iran’s ballistic missiles, drones, and proxy networks.
In response, Iran’s foreign ministry blamed the U.S. military presence for regional instability, arguing that the waterway should be jointly managed exclusively by Tehran and Oman under the interim pact.
Tehran established effective control over the vital passage following U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on February 28, which triggered the war and severely rattled global energy markets.
Escalation at sea: Vessel hit near Oman
The diplomatic row intensified following an incident on Thursday involving Taiwan’s Evergreen Marine. The company confirmed that its Singapore-flagged vessel, Ever Lovely, was struck by an “unknown object” near Oman while following a route recommended by the British navy agency, UKMTO.
While no injuries were reported and the ship continued its journey, U.S. officials told Reuters that Iranian forces had fired on the vessel.
Conversely, Iran’s newly formed Persian Gulf Strait Authority countered that any ships using unauthorized routes would do so at the sole “responsibility of the owner, operator, and vessel commander.”
U.S. President Donald Trump has previously warned that a failure by Iran to honor the interim deal—including reopening the strait—would likely prompt a resumption of U.S. bombing campaigns.
Roadblocks to peace
The struggle for control of the Strait of Hormuz is just one of several friction points threatening the framework ceasefire. Negotiations are currently locked in a 60-day window to address deeply complex issues, including disagreements over monitoring Iran’s nuclear program, deliberations over sanctions relief for Tehran and Israel’s ongoing parallel war in Lebanon.
International response
Following the attack near Oman, the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) temporarily suspended its escort operations through the strait. The IMO and Oman had recently angered Tehran by introducing a new southern route to evacuate hundreds of shipping vessels stranded by the war.
Meanwhile, Asian nations are moving swiftly to secure their assets. South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung confirmed that three South Korean vessels would exit the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, following the successful evacuation of eight other ships reported by the country’s Oceans Ministry.
