Iranian sources say Iran insists on retaining control of the Strait of Hormuz.
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WSJ: Iran says it will close the Strait of Hormuz again if negotiations fail to secure sole control.
According to a report by the WSJ on June 30, sources familiar with the matter stated that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard has informed mediators that it will close the Strait of Hormuz again if it fails to obtain assurances of Iran's sole control over the strait during the Doha talks. The Revolutionary Guard also demanded that the United States and other countries abandon plans to allow ships to navigate through the southern waters of the strait closer to Oman.
The number of ships in the Strait of Hormuz's Omani shipping lanes has sharply decreased, and Iran continues to strengthen its control over the waterways.
According to Mars Finance, on July 5th, reports indicated a significant decrease in the number of ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman on Sunday. This followed a sharp turnaround the previous day by several vessels attempting to leave the strait along the route, highlighting Iran's continued efforts to strengthen its control over this strategic waterway. An oil tanker that turned back on Saturday appears to be attempting to pass again and has now passed the northernmost tip of Oman's Musandem Peninsula. Earlier, another oil tanker also traveled along the same route and publicly announced its intention to navigate, currently broadcasting its position information in the Gulf of Oman. Other vessels are opting for unauthorized transit. A Suezmax crude oil tanker appeared in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday after its last position broadcast in the Persian Gulf on Saturday. Between Friday and Saturday, at least eight vessels suddenly turned back while transiting the Strait of Hormuz along the Omani route. Four of these subsequently changed course northward, exiting the strait via the Iranian side of the route. There is currently no official explanation for these sudden turns. However, Iran has repeatedly stated that ships can only transit the Strait of Hormuz via designated and authorized routes. According to Kpler data, 19 ships transited the Strait of Hormuz in both directions on Saturday, but only one ship publicly indicated it would enter the strait via the Omani coastal route, compared to 13 ships using that route on Friday. These statistics only cover observable navigation activities.
Sources: Oman has proposed charging Iran a passage fee for the Strait of Hormuz, a proposal the United States opposes.
According to a report by The New York Times on June 30, multiple informed officials and diplomatic sources revealed that Oman has submitted a formal proposal to the United States and its Western allies to jointly charge vessels transit fees through the Strait of Hormuz with Iran in order to support waterway safety and operational management. The report states that the proposal partially references the operational models of the Strait of Malacca and the Singapore Strait. Regional diplomatic sources indicated that the fees are intended to be voluntary, but Iran maintains that payments will be mandatory. The United States has received Oman's proposal and expressed concerns about the arrangements, stating it will continue consultations with Oman. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously stated that the US opposes any form of charging for navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, including "fees, transit fees, or donations," and believes that the pre-war freedom of navigation should be restored. The report points out that the future management arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz remain a key issue in the US-Iran peace negotiations. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that Iran will soon begin negotiations with Oman to discuss matters including the fee mechanism and adjustments to shipping routes.
Iranian lawmaker: The US must recognize the Iranian regime in the Strait of Hormuz
Odaily Odaily reports that following the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's announcement of strikes against 85 US military facilities in the region, a senior Iranian lawmaker stated that the US must "recognize the new administrative system in the Strait of Hormuz." According to official media reports, Ibrahim Aziz, chairman of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, made the remarks on social media, commenting on the Revolutionary Guard's so-called "preliminary response" to US aggression. He stated, "There is no other way: the new Iranian regime in the Strait of Hormuz must be recognized."
Iranian Parliament Speaker: Strait of Hormuz should be jointly managed by Iran and Oman
Odaily Odaily reports that Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad al-Kalibaf stated that the Strait of Hormuz should be jointly managed by Iran and Oman. Kalibaf made this statement during a meeting with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Haibat Khalabsi. Regarding the management of the Strait of Hormuz, Kalibaf pointed out that a recent memorandum of understanding signed with the United States stipulates that the Strait of Hormuz should be jointly managed by Iran and Oman. He indicated that Iran is currently seeking opinions from Persian Gulf littoral states, including Iraq, on this matter. (Xinhua)
Scholars warn: Iran is normalizing its control over the Strait of Hormuz.
According to BlockBeats, on July 3rd, Al Jazeera reported that Rob Guest Pinford, a lecturer in security studies at King's College London, stated that despite US efforts to restore normal shipping and the signing of a memorandum of understanding, Iran's actual control over the Strait of Hormuz has not only not weakened but has actually strengthened since the conflict. He pointed out that before the war, approximately 125 ships passed through the strait daily, but even after recent diplomatic efforts, shipping traffic remains significantly lower than that level. Pinford believes that Gulf states had already sought alternative trade routes before the conflict, and this trend accelerated further after the war, but Iran has consolidated its influence in this crucial waterway by continuously "creating a fait accompli." He emphasized that Iran is deepening its strategic embedding in the strait, leaving shipping companies with "no choice but to adapt" to the new landscape in practical operations. (Jinshi)