Iran Sends Strong Warning to US and Oman Over Strait of Hormuz Control

Tensions escalated over the Strait of Hormuz as Iran responded sharply to US demands for free navigation in the critical waterway. The US had urged Iran to declare the strait open and free from threats, tolls, or interference, but Iran rejected this, attacking commercial ships attempting to pass through the strait. This message was also conveyed to Oman, which has been discussing a proposal to maintain a toll-free southern route through the strait.

In a significant military escalation, the US conducted extensive airstrikes in Iran overnight, targeting approximately 140 sites, marking the third such operation in a week. Iranian reports indicated that strikes also hit deep inside the country, including Khondab province, far from the Strait of Hormuz. Despite reports of air defense activations in Tehran, no direct attacks on the capital were confirmed.

Iranian officials emphasized their unwillingness to compromise, with statements from key figures like National Security Committee Chairman Ebrahim Azizi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf asserting that the strait would only be open under Iranian terms, rejecting US threats. Tehran views control over the strait as more valuable than the tens of billions in sanctions relief offered by the Trump administration.

The conflict also involves Oman, which lies strategically between US and Iranian interests. Iran’s drone attacks in Oman’s Musandam governorate, adjacent to the strait, signal Tehran’s insistence on joint toll collection, opposing Oman’s recent move to keep the southern route toll-free. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ attacks on ships in the southern route underline this stance, challenging both Oman’s and the US’s positions.

Following these developments, Iran aims to solidify its dominance over the Strait of Hormuz, seeking to establish a new regional order under its influence. Despite recent US military pressure, Tehran believes it has emerged stronger and is raising its demands in ongoing negotiations, while Gulf states have shown signs of rapprochement with Iran amid this shifting dynamic.