Iran has rejected an Omani proposal for equal joint control of the Strait of Hormuz and demanded broader control over shipping lanes as a condition for reopening the waterway, according to reports. The demand, reported 20 minutes after a senior Iranian official told Reuters the proposal had 'no chance of succeeding,' underscores Tehran's hardening position in the diplomatic standoff over the strategic chokepoint.
Iran has further hardened its position in the Strait of Hormuz crisis, demanding broader control over shipping lanes as a condition for reopening the waterway, according to reports circulating in Hebrew-language Telegram channels Wednesday morning. The new demand, reported at 08:52 Jerusalem, came just 20 minutes after The Zioneer reported at 08:32 that a senior Iranian official had told Reuters that the Omani proposal for equal joint management had 'no chance of succeeding.' The additional detail goes beyond the earlier official's general insistence on Iranian dominance, specifying that broader control of shipping lanes is a precondition.
The new report follows a rapid sequence of Iranian statements. On Tuesday evening, The Zioneer reported that Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi had rejected the Omani proposal for a 50-50 shared route and demanded full Iranian control of the entry route and part of the exit route, warning that if Oman does not accept, the strait will remain closed. Subsequent bulletins that evening, also at 21:47 Jerusalem, confirmed the rejection and insisted that only Iran and Oman can manage the waterway. The hardening of the official position from a general demand for control to a specific condition for broader control of shipping lanes marks an escalation.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of global oil passes, has been a focal point of Iranian pressure since Tehran declared a blockade in late June. As The Zioneer reported, Iran lost effective control of the strait by June 27 as tankers shifted to Omani waters. It rejected an Omani proposal for a southern route under US supervision on July 5, and on July 26 rejected all Omani proposals for an alternative passage. The latest demand, with the additional condition for broader control, signals that Tehran is not prepared to accept any arrangement that dilutes its authority over the strategic chokepoint.
It remains unclear whether the new demand is a formal condition or a non-official position. The exact scope of 'broader control' has not been defined, and no Omani response to the latest demand has been reported.
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