Iran has announced a significant expansion of the area around the Strait of Hormuz over which it asserts military oversight, aiming to affirm its sovereignty over the crucial trade route.
A map published by Iran’s newly-established “Persian Gulf Strait Authority” indicates “Iranian armed forces oversight” across more than 22,000 sq km (8,800 sq miles). This expanded zone extends into the territorial waters of Oman and the UAE. The UAE has dismissed Iran’s assertions of control, describing them as “nothing but fragments of dreams.”
The newly established authority further stated that all transit through the strait would “require coordination with and authorization from the Persian Gulf Strait Authority.”
The United States and its Gulf allies have consistently rejected Iran’s efforts to assert control over the strait. The US has advised ships not to comply with Iran’s proposed rules.
Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, commented that Iran is “trying to consecrate a new reality born from a clear military defeat, but attempts to control the Strait of Hormuz or encroach on the UAE’s maritime sovereignty are nothing but fragments of dreams.”
It is important to note that under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), ships are guaranteed safe passage through another country’s waters. However, Iran has not ratified this convention.
Media outlets associated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) recently released footage depicting what they described as a “punishment” strike on a tanker in the strait. BBC Verify analysis suggests that key characteristics of the vessel in the footage match the Barakah, a Liberian-flagged tanker which reported being struck by unknown projectiles in early May, according to its operators.
Iran’s intensified focus on asserting greater control over the Strait of Hormuz area coincides with an incident where US forces boarded an Iran-bound oil tanker on Wednesday. The US military’s Central Command (Centcom) stated the vessel was suspected of violating the American blockade targeting Iranian ports.
Footage published by Centcom shows US marines rappelling from a helicopter onto the deck of a ship, identified as the oil tanker Celestial Sea, in the Gulf of Oman. Centcom’s social media post indicated the ship was “suspected of attempting to violate the US blockade by transiting toward an Iranian port.” Maritime risk management company Vanguard reported that “US forces subsequently released the vessel after conducting a search and directing the crew to alter course.”
The Celestial Sea has previously been sanctioned under a different name by the US for its links with Iran. Tracking data from MarineTraffic now shows the ship reporting its destination as the port of Duqm in Oman.
Centcom announced on Thursday that it had redirected 94 commercial ships and disabled four vessels since the US blockade of Iranian ports came into effect on April 13.
Donald Trump announced on Monday that he had postponed a planned military attack on Iran, citing requests from Gulf states and ongoing “serious negotiations.” In a post on Truth Social, the US president stated he had been asked to do so by the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Pakistan’s military chief is reported to be visiting Tehran on Thursday in an effort to mediate peace efforts between Iran and the US. Iranian state media reported that Asim Munir would be continuing talks with senior Iranian officials.
The Iranian foreign ministry confirmed it was reviewing the latest proposals from the US aimed at de-escalation. Trump suggested he could wait a few days for Tehran to agree to a new deal but was also willing to resume actions against the country. “Believe me, if we don’t get the right answers, it goes very quickly. We’re all ready to go,” the president said.
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