Iran Strikes Ships in Strait of Hormuz, Rejects US and Omani Demands for Free Passage

Amid escalating tensions, Iran launched attacks on commercial vessels navigating the critical Strait of Hormuz, directly challenging US demands for free and unimpeded passage through the waterway. The US had called on Iran to declare the strait open and free from threats, tolls, or interference, a demand Tehran firmly rejected by targeting ships in the southern route near Oman. This move sent a clear message to both Washington and Muscat that Iran will not concede control over the strategic strait.

The attacks occurred after a tense weekend during which the US military conducted extensive strikes inside Iran, targeting approximately 140 sites, marking the third wave of such operations in a week. Iranian reports indicated that some targets were deep within the country, including Khondab province, far from the Strait of Hormuz. Despite reports of air defense activity in Tehran, no direct attacks on the capital were confirmed.

Iranian officials emphasized their unwillingness to compromise, with parliament security committee chairman Ebrahim Azizi stating that recognizing Iran's new order in the strait is the only path forward. Parliament speaker and chief US negotiator Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf echoed this, asserting the strait would only open under Iranian terms, not American threats. Tehran views control over the strait as more valuable than billions in sanctions relief and aims to establish a "Pax Iranica" regional order.

Oman, a key regional player and ally to both Iran and the US, has been discussing a plan to keep the southern route near its coast free of tolls while allowing fees on the northern route near Iran. Iran’s attacks on ships in the southern route signal its rejection of this arrangement and serve as a warning to Oman to align with Tehran’s vision of shared toll collection. The situation places Oman between the US and Iran, with the latter exerting pressure through drone strikes even within Omani territory.

Following these developments, Iran appears to be raising the stakes in negotiations, confident that the US is unlikely to escalate to full-scale war. The recent US strikes have not deterred Tehran’s ambitions to solidify its dominance over the Strait of Hormuz and reshape the geopolitical landscape of the Gulf region.