Is Iran Winning the Battle Over the Strait of Hormuz?
Any level of Iranian control would mark a major geopolitical shift in Tehran’s favor.
The potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remains in the works, with mediators urging U.S. and Iranian officials to reach a consensus on control of the strategic waterway. Tehran claims it is in the final stage of drafting a deal with Oman, putting the focus on Washington to determine the next steps. According to a proposed deal between Iran and Oman, Iran would oversee all traffic entering the Persian Gulf through the strait, but the control would be defined differently by each party.
Iran demands the right to board and charge commercial vessels, while Gulf mediators insist upon their right to supervise inspections and maintain voluntary payments. A 60-day framework would also require outbound traffic to pass through Omani waters, with a 30-day window to begin de-mining the strait's median lane. However, no deal has been reached yet, with previous attempts to reach a durable agreement failing due to confusion and differing interpretations of the agreement's terms.
Analysts remain uncertain about the extent of any mined thoroughfare and the time required to clear it for safe use. Despite diplomatic and military setbacks, U.S. President Donald Trump remains confident in Washington's ability to win the war, stating that Iran is currently "going very well."
Written by urgent.news from Foreign Policy's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
