Capitals - As Iran continues the funeral ceremonies for its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the conflict and controversy over the future of the Strait of Hormuz and the movement of ships in the vital waterway through which about 20% of the world's oil and liquefied gas supplies pass continues.
اضافة اعلان
Following Britain and France's announcement of their readiness to deploy a multinational military mission to support freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran warned against any military action in the strait.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that Hormuz is not a military parade ground for non-regional forces, reiterating that the coastal states bordering the strait are responsible for ensuring its security.
He added, "As the responsible power and guarantor of the security of the Strait of Hormuz, we warn against any military action there," emphasizing that anyone attempting to provoke crises will bear the consequences of their actions. He added, "This is a serious warning."
The Strait of Hormuz is a major point of contention between Washington and Tehran, having previously witnessed attacks between the two sides. In recent days, attacks have resumed despite the signing of a memorandum of understanding between them.
Amidst American, Gulf, and international rejection of imposing any fees on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran is introducing another term through its ambassador to China, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, who stated that Iran will certainly impose what he called a "service fee" as a country whose territorial waters lie within the Strait of Hormuz.
During his participation in the World Peace Forum in Beijing, he emphasized that this would not be a "toll" in the literal sense, but he also stated that what he called friendly countries would receive "special" treatment regarding "service fees."
He indicated that his country was working "in cooperation and coordination" with the Sultanate of Oman on "new arrangements" for this vital waterway.
Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman had affirmed—according to the joint statement with France at the conclusion of his visit to Paris last week—the commitment to unconditional and unrestricted freedom of navigation, including the right of transit passage in accordance with the Law of the Sea.
Although the memorandum of understanding signed between Iran and the United States, aimed at ending the war between them, stipulates guaranteeing the safe passage of commercial vessels without fees for 60 days in the Strait of Hormuz, the mechanism to be implemented thereafter remains unclear.
A British-French move with Omani approval: However, the development that apparently provoked Iran was the joint statement issued yesterday, Friday, by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, which indicated that the Sultanate of Oman had agreed to work with the United Kingdom and France to ensure the safety of navigation in its territorial waters.
Last Friday, Macron announced in a post on his X-post account that France had deployed specialized mine-clearing assets to the Middle East, including two minesweepers, two frigates, and a maritime patrol aircraft.
He explained that these capabilities were ready to contribute—in cooperation with partners—to the full resumption of maritime traffic and ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Also last Friday, NBC News, citing four sources, reported that Iran and Oman had submitted a proposal to the United States outlining a mechanism for managing the Strait of Hormuz. This proposal included joint management by Tehran and Muscat and suggested the possibility of collecting administrative fees.
According to two informed sources and a regional source, the plan was recently delivered to Washington. However, a Middle Eastern official clarified that Oman has not yet submitted a formal proposal, despite ongoing consultations with the United States regarding potential mechanisms for managing the strait.
An informed source stated that the American negotiators have some reservations about the proposal, but intend to discuss it with the Omani side, believing that the outstanding issues can be resolved.
The same source indicated that Muscat is committed to guaranteeing freedom of navigation in the Strait without imposing mandatory transit fees, emphasizing that the Omani proposal does not include any mandatory fees for ships.
At the time, the White House spokesperson stated that President Donald Trump affirmed that Iran cannot impose fees on passage through the Strait of Hormuz, as it is an international waterway.
Meanwhile, Axios quoted a source as saying that Trump's envoys are trying to convey a message to Iran that its demands for fees could jeopardize the chances of reaching an agreement with Washington.
In a related development, Russian Deputy Security Council Chairman Dmitry Medvedev stated that the Strait of Hormuz has become for Iran "a weapon no less powerful than a nuclear weapon."
He also noted that Tehran, according to RIA Novosti, possesses a "backup weapon" in the form of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The Houthi group, which the Yemeni government accuses of being supported by Iran, has previously launched attacks on ships in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, where the group controls the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah. Amidst the complexities of navigation and uncertainty surrounding the future of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, maritime data indicates that traffic in the strait continues to face challenges despite the resumption of transit.
At least eight ships abruptly turned back off the coast of Oman before entering the strait. Bloomberg reported, citing maritime data, that the ships altered their course between Friday and Saturday while attempting to leave the Arabian Gulf, the latest indication of the ongoing difficulties in navigating the strait.
The agency added that four of the eight ships were later observed transiting the Strait of Hormuz via the Iranian route. The reason for the ships' change of course remains unknown, but Iran has repeatedly asserted that ships should only transit the strait through the designated shipping lane.
The funeral ceremonies for Khamenei continued, and US President Donald Trump said that Washington had given Tehran a week's grace period before resuming negotiations, out of consideration for the funeral of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, adding, "We did that out of kindness."
He noted that he was surprised to see Iranians weeping at Khamenei's funeral, as he had believed, according to him, that "people hated him."
He said that the Iranians were begging for a deal, and that he was following Khamenei's funeral ceremonies, adding that he could eliminate everyone "but there would be no one left to negotiate with," as he put it.
Trump added in a statement to Axios that Washington and Tehran had decided to "take a week's break from talks until Khamenei's funeral is over," emphasizing that neither side would fire on the other during the funeral period. (Agencies)
