Iran Expands Claims Over Strategic Strait of Hormuz
Iran has announced a significant expansion of the area around the Strait of Hormuz over which it claims military control, asserting its sovereignty over this vital global trade route.
A map released by Iran’s recently established “Persian Gulf Strait Authority” indicates “Iranian armed forces oversight” across an area exceeding 22,000 sq km (8,800 sq miles). This claimed zone extends into the territorial waters of Oman and the UAE. The UAE has described Iran’s claims of control as “nothing but fragments of dreams.”
The new Iranian authority stated that all transit through the strait “requires coordination with and authorization from the Persian Gulf Strait Authority.” The United States and its Gulf allies have consistently rejected Iranian attempts to assert control over the strait, with the US advising ships not to comply with Iran’s directives. 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 noteworthy that while the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea guarantees safe passage through other countries’ waters, Iran has not ratified this convention.
This week, media outlets linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) published footage, which they claimed depicted a “punishment” strike on a tanker in the strait. BBC Verify analysis suggests that key characteristics of the vessel in the footage align with the Barakah, a Liberian-flagged tanker that reported being struck by unknown projectiles in early May, according to its operators.
Iran’s efforts to enhance its control over the Strait of Hormuz region coincide with US forces boarding an Iran-bound oil tanker on Wednesday. The US military’s Central Command (Centcom) stated the vessel was suspected of violating the American blockade of Iranian ports. Centcom released footage showing 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 further stated on social media that the ship was “suspected of attempting to violate the US blockade by transiting toward an Iranian port.” According to maritime risk management company Vanguard, “US forces subsequently released the vessel after conducting a search and directing the crew to alter course.” The Celestial Sea has previously been sanctioned by the US under a different name due to its connections with Iran. MarineTraffic tracking data now shows the ship’s reported destination as the port of Duqm in Oman. Centcom reported on Thursday that since the US blockade of Iranian ports began on April 13, it has redirected 94 commercial ships and disabled four vessels.
In related developments, Donald Trump announced on Monday that he was postponing a planned military attack on Iran at the request of Gulf states, citing that “serious negotiations are now taking place.” He stated on Truth Social that leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates had made this request. Pakistan’s military chief is reportedly visiting Tehran on Thursday to mediate peace efforts between Iran and the US. Iranian state media confirmed that Asim Munir would continue talks with senior Iranian officials. The Iranian foreign ministry indicated it was reviewing the latest proposals from the US aimed at ending the conflict. Trump suggested he might wait a few days for Tehran to agree to a new deal but also expressed readiness to resume attacks if satisfactory answers were not received, stating, “Believe me, if we don’t get the right answers, it goes very quickly. We’re all ready to go.”
#StraitOfHormuz #Iran #MaritimeSecurity #PersianGulf #USSanctions #InternationalLaw #OilTanker #Geopolitics #MiddleEast #TradeRoute
Leave a Reply