Iran Rejects Oman's Proposal for Strait of Hormuz Control
Iran has rejected Oman's proposal to divide control of the Strait of Hormuz equally, according to a senior Iranian official. The official told Reuters that Iran wants to maintain control over most of the critical oil and LNG chokepoint, with inbound traffic into the Persian Gulf under Iranian control and part of the outbound lanes.
Oman had proposed dividing the lanes evenly and asking ships to pay a voluntary fee for navigation, environmental protection, and rescue operations. However, Iran appears unwilling to share control, citing concerns that the US and Saudi Arabia are pressuring Oman to propose 'unrealistic plans' for control of the waterway.
The rejection comes as strikes in the region have resumed, sending oil prices surging again early on Wednesday in Asian trade. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed they struck three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz after the vessels ignored warnings and used an 'unsafe and illegal route'.