The question of who controls the Strait of Hormuz has become a central point of contention in West Asia, with both the United States and Iran vehemently claiming dominion over the critical waterway. This high-stakes dispute follows the collapse of a temporary ceasefire agreement and the resumption of military actions in the region.
Conflicting Claims Over a Vital Passage
According to US President Donald Trump, Washington maintains "total control" of the Strait, describing a "wall of steel" naval blockade that he claims Iran is powerless against. Trump has repeatedly asserted that Iran's military capabilities, including its navy and air force, are severely diminished.
Conversely, Tehran unequivocally states that the strategic Strait of Hormuz is under its management and control. Iran's joint military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, has declared that no vessel can traverse the Strait without Tehran's explicit permission. Hossein Taeb, head of Iran’s Basij paramilitary unit, reinforced this position, emphasizing Iran's complete security management of the area and dismissing US claims about normal vessel passage as "lies and falsehoods."
Breakdown of Ceasefire and Renewed Hostilities
The current confrontation escalates from a conflict that began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Following these initial strikes, Tehran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a move with significant global implications given that the waterway handles approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
In June, an interim agreement was reached, aiming for a permanent ceasefire and a swift return to freedom of navigation in the Gulf. However, this agreement quickly unraveled weeks later, with both the US and Iran accusing each other of violations. Iran resumed limited attacks on vessels it deemed to be in breach of the agreement, while the US restarted strikes on Iran’s southern provinces, targeting Tehran’s capacity to attack vessels in the Gulf.
Future Outlook and Escalation Warnings
Iranian officials have issued stern warnings regarding the future of the Strait. Mohammad Mokhber, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, indicated that Khamenei’s strategy would involve an "offensive war" if Tehran’s conditions are not met. Mokhber referenced a proposed Hormuz economic-security mechanism, potentially linked to an Iran-Oman deal to regulate transit through the Strait.
Similarly, Iranian military political official Rasoul Sanaei-Rad affirmed that Iran would not reopen the waterway unless the other side fulfills its commitments under the collapsed interim deal, adding that the US cannot unilaterally reopen the Strait. The ongoing dispute over Strait of Hormuz control highlights the volatile geopolitical landscape and its potential impact on global energy markets.