Iran claims exclusive 30-day control of Strait of Hormuz and warns against outside intervention

Renewed hostilities

Since Thursday, violence has flared again around the 30-kilometre-wide chokepoint between Iran and Oman. Oman announced an alternative shipping lane coordinated with the United Nations to evacuate stranded vessels. Shortly afterwards, a cargo ship crossing outside the Iranian‑controlled corridor was hit by a projectile of unknown origin. The United States attributed the strike to Iran and launched air attacks on Iranian territory, drawing retaliatory fire against American positions, notably in Bahrain.

A similar sequence unfolded on Saturday, when an oil tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile. US aircraft again hit Iranian military infrastructure, and on Sunday Iran responded with missile and drone attacks against targets in Kuwait and Bahrain.

Tehran’s hard line

Visiting Baghdad, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted that the Strait of Hormuz stays under full Iranian supervision and control for the next 30 days. "Responsibility rests solely with the Islamic Republic of Iran. There is no other party or state in this matter," he said, adding that any intervention or unilateral move would worsen the situation and delay the waterway's return to full capacity.

“Any intervention or attempt to create parallel mechanisms will complicate the situation, increase tensions and delay the reopening of this vital sea passage.”

Talks scrapped

Tehran also cancelled technical talks planned for Sunday. Mehdi Fazaeli of the Supreme Leader’s office told state television that recent attacks plus unmet MoU conditions were the cause, citing lack of access to the country’s unfrozen funds as one example. "If there is no access, then this condition has not been fulfilled," he said.

Araghchi linked the cancellations to broader American violations, asserting that Article 5 of the June 17 memorandum gives Iran the mandate and privilege to manage the strait for the 60‑day negotiation window.

Regional fallout

Kuwait condemned what it called "heinous and repeated attacks," calling them a flagrant violation of its sovereignty and a setback to efforts to end the broader Middle East war. In Bahrain, sirens sounded twice overnight and the military said it intercepted and destroyed a number of incoming missiles. Iran’s foreign ministry declared the country "determined to defend its national sovereignty" after US strikes on surveillance and control installations along the southern coast.

The Lebanon dimension

Araghchi also pressed Washington to uphold the memorandum’s first clause: forcing Israel to halt its airstrikes on Lebanon and withdraw from occupied areas. "Washington must shoulder its responsibilities and force the Zionist entity to stop its attacks," he stated, noting that the MoU was accepted by Israel as well.