Iran Tightens Grip On Strait Of Hormuz Amid Rising Tensions With US

Strait of Hormuz Crisis - Iran Threatens to Stop Gulf Oil Shipments

Iran Tightens Grip On Strait Of Hormuz Amid Rising Tensions With US

Iran has intensified efforts to assert military and administrative control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions with the United States, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and other Gulf allies over one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes.

The latest controversy erupted after Iran’s newly established Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) published a map claiming “Iranian armed forces oversight” across more than 22,000 square kilometres of waters surrounding the Strait.

The claimed maritime zone extends beyond Iran’s recognised territorial boundaries into waters belonging to Oman and the UAE, triggering strong condemnation from Gulf governments.

The UAE swiftly rejected Tehran’s claims, describing them as provocative and unrealistic.

Diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, Anwar Gargash, accused Iran of attempting to impose “a new reality born from a clear military defeat,” insisting that efforts to dominate the Strait of Hormuz or violate Emirati maritime sovereignty were “nothing but fragments of dreams.”

Iran’s new maritime authority further declared that all vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz would now require “coordination with and authorization from the Persian Gulf Strait Authority.”

The move has been interpreted by analysts as an attempt by Tehran to establish de facto control over one of the world’s busiest energy corridors.

The United States and Gulf allies immediately rejected the directive, stressing that the Strait of Hormuz remains an international waterway protected under global maritime law.

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Washington has reportedly advised commercial shipping operators not to comply with Iran’s instructions.

The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, handles nearly 20 percent of global oil shipments and a significant share of the world’s liquefied natural gas exports.

Any disruption to navigation through the narrow waterway is considered a major threat to global energy supplies and international trade.

Although the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) guarantees freedom of navigation and safe passage through international straits, Iran has never formally ratified the treaty and has repeatedly challenged aspects of international maritime law.

The crisis has deepened amid worsening confrontation between Tehran and Washington following renewed US-Israeli strikes on Iranian-linked targets earlier this year.

Media outlets linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) this week aired footage allegedly showing a “punishment strike” on an oil tanker navigating the Strait of Hormuz.

BBC Verify later reported that details in the footage matched the Liberian-flagged tanker Barakah, whose operators earlier disclosed that the vessel had been struck by unidentified projectiles while travelling through the area.

Tensions escalated further on Wednesday after US forces boarded an Iran-bound oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) identified the vessel as Celestial Sea and claimed it was suspected of violating the US-led blockade imposed on Iranian ports in April.

Video footage released by CENTCOM showed US Marines descending from a helicopter onto the tanker during the operation.

According to maritime security company Vanguard, American forces later searched the ship and ordered the crew to alter course.

Tracking data from MarineTraffic subsequently showed the tanker redirecting toward the Omani port of Duqm.

The vessel had previously been sanctioned by Washington under another name over alleged links to Iranian oil transportation networks.

CENTCOM disclosed that since the blockade began on April 13, US forces had redirected 94 commercial vessels and disabled four ships suspected of violating sanctions tied to Iran.

The growing maritime confrontation has already disrupted shipping activities in the Gulf, with analysts warning of rising freight insurance costs, delays in crude oil exports, and heightened instability in global energy markets.

The chief executive officer of the UAE’s ADNOC recently warned that full restoration of normal oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz may not happen before 2027, even if hostilities end soon.

Diplomatic efforts are now intensifying to prevent a broader regional conflict.

Former US President Donald Trump revealed that he delayed planned military strikes against Iran earlier this week following requests from Gulf leaders, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, who urged Washington to allow more time for negotiations.

Trump said “serious negotiations” were ongoing but warned that military action remained possible if Tehran failed to respond positively to American proposals.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s military chief, General Asim Munir, reportedly arrived in Tehran on Thursday as part of mediation efforts aimed at easing tensions between Iran and the United States.

Iranian state media confirmed that Munir was meeting senior Iranian officials while Tehran reviewed the latest US proposals designed to end the crisis and restore stability in the Gulf.

Security analysts warn that continued escalation around the Strait of Hormuz could trigger serious consequences for global oil prices, maritime trade, and regional security if military incidents continue in one of the world’s most sensitive waterways.