Iran Rejects Oman's Strait of Hormuz Control Proposal

Iran has rejected a proposal from Oman to evenly share control of the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran demanding it maintain dominant control over the critical oil and LNG chokepoint. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Oman had suggested dividing the lanes equally and implementing voluntary fees for navigation and environmental protection, similar to the Strait of Malacca system.

However, Iran views this proposal as unrealistic and not in its interest, with the official suggesting that the U.S. and Saudi Arabia are behind the push for such plans. Tehran insists on controlling all inbound traffic into the Persian Gulf and a portion of the outbound lanes.

The rejection comes as regional tensions escalate, with strikes and attacks resuming. The IRGC claimed on Wednesday to have struck three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz after they allegedly ignored warnings and used an unsafe route. The IRGC Navy asserted full control over the strait and warned that U.S. actions would not go unanswered.