Iran Insists on Permanent Control Over Strait of Hormuz

Two senior Iranian sources revealed Tehran's intention to secure international recognition of its control over the Strait of Hormuz and to impose fees on vessels passing through, indicating that Iran is ready to use force if needed to enforce this control.

Under a temporary agreement reached with the United States in June to end a three-month conflict, Iran agreed to allow ships to pass through the strait without fees for 60 days. Nevertheless, Tehran maintains that the agreement’s wording grants it the right to retain control over which ships may transit and the routes they take.

The sources emphasized that Iranian negotiators will not move on to discuss other contentious issues in the ongoing peace talks with Washington until formal and permanent control over the strait is agreed upon once the temporary phase ends.

If the temporary agreement is not extended, Iran will begin imposing fees on ships passing through starting mid-August, although it has yet to specify the fee schedule or collection mechanism. Previously, Iran closed the strait at the outbreak of the war and levied navigation fees on some vessels leaving the Gulf.

Any permanent Iranian control over the strait, combined with official procedures and fees, would increase costs, delays, and risks for all shipping through this vital passage, which before the war accounted for one-fifth of global energy supplies as well as other essential goods.

This Iranian stance directly contradicts the US interpretation of the temporary memorandum of understanding signed on June 17, as well as Washington’s position on final arrangements after the war’s conclusion.

Last week, US President Donald Trump stated that no fees would be imposed on passage through the strait unless decided by Washington itself. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed during a meeting with Gulf states that no country has the right to obstruct navigation or impose fees on passage through an international waterway.

From Iran’s perspective, the temporary agreement grants it the right to maintain control over all traffic through the strait, albeit without collecting fees during the temporary period. Tehran also notes that while discussions with Gulf states on arrangements are necessary, it is not obligated to reach an agreement with them.

In line with this, Iran announced on Monday plans to hold talks with Oman, which borders the southern coast of the strait, to determine transit routes.

On the ground, Iran opened fire earlier in the week on four ships attempting to cross the strait from the Omani side without prior Iranian permission, resulting in a brief but intense exchange of fire with US forces.

A senior Iranian official stated that Tehran will not allow the situation to revert to what it was before the war, stressing that new arrangements must govern the Strait of Hormuz. These include Iran’s right to decide how ships enter and exit, to prevent any vessel suspected of threatening Iranian security, and to impose fees for mandatory services provided.

The official warned that Iran is prepared to enforce its demands by force if other countries reject its terms in the agreement, indicating that Tehran will not back down even if this leads to renewed and escalated confrontations with the United States.

Another senior Iranian official expressed the view that, having survived what it considered its greatest potential threat—a war with the United States and Israel—Iran believes it now has a “historic opportunity” to secure a long-term strategic advantage in the strait.