Iran Demands Recognition of Sovereignty Over the Strait of Hormuz to End War
In a new list of demands aimed at ending the war initiated by the United States and Israel, Iran has included a previously unmentioned request for recognition of its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
According to CNN, this critically important waterway, through which one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies pass, has become the most effective weapon for the Islamic Republic. Iran is now seeking to transform its control over the strait into a source of enormous annual revenue, as well as a lever of pressure on the global economy.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz in the event of an attack, but few expected these threats to materialize. The scale of the consequences, it seems, has expanded Tehran's ambitions, and it now seeks to turn this influence into something more fundamental. According to Middle East analyst Dina Esfandiari from Bloomberg Economics, Iran was partially taken aback by how successful its strategy regarding the Strait of Hormuz has been, as well as how cheaply and easily it can hold the global economy hostage.
“One of the lessons learned from this war is that Iran has discovered this new lever of influence and is likely to use it in the future,” the expert noted. Esfandiari added, “I believe that monetizing this lever is part of the process of realizing that it exists.” Washington is acutely aware of this risk, CNN reports.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that such a condition is illegal and poses a danger to the entire world. He assured that the United States would not allow Iran to establish control over the Strait of Hormuz and impose fees for passage through it. In previous rounds of negotiations with Washington, Tehran insisted on easing sanctions and recognizing its right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, but not on control over the Strait of Hormuz, CNN reminds.
Iran is signaling the possibility of formalizing this lever of influence. The Iranian parliament's commission has approved a preliminary draft law regarding navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Among its provisions is a clause regarding monetary fees for passage through the strait. The draft also includes provisions prohibiting vessels associated with the United States or Israel from passing through this maritime corridor.
On March 17, it was reported that the United Arab Emirates might join a U.S.-led defense mission to ensure the security of the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, officials in the Emirates noted that they are not currently engaged in active negotiations with Iran. As reported by The Wall Street Journal on March 31, U.S. President Donald Trump informed his aides that he is willing to conclude the war against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains partially closed.
According to the publication, in recent days, Trump and his team have concluded that attempting to fully unblock this strategic strait could prolong the conflict significantly longer than the initial operation plan, which was estimated to last four to six weeks.