Iran has asserted increased control over the Strait of Hormuz, demanding that all ships obtain permission from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) before transiting the critical waterway. This declaration follows a series of Iranian attacks on commercial vessels over the weekend, which in turn prompted U.S. military strikes.
The recent hostilities have significantly impacted shipping traffic through the strait, a vital chokepoint that previously handled approximately 20% of the world's oil. On Saturday, only 10 ships crossed the strait, a sharp decline from the 40 to 50 vessels observed earlier in the week, according to maritime intelligence firm Kpler. Experts warn that the renewed violence may deter vessels from crossing, reminiscent of the pre-peace deal period when more than 130 ships transited daily.
Iranians state media reported that the IRGC has maintained its authority over the strait. On Thursday, the IRGC fired a drone at a Singapore-flagged cargo ship, the Ever Lovely, near the coast of Oman. Iran claimed the vessel had used a route through the strait that bypassed Iranian-controlled waters and was allegedly using military escorts, which it stated undermined Iranian control.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced Sunday that Iran would exercise sole management of the Strait of Hormuz for the next 30 days before allowing full traffic to resume. "Any attempt to adopt new or separate arrangements compared to what is underway by the Islamic Republic of Iran, will only lead to more complicated situations and delays in the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and will increase the tensions, as we witnessed in the past two nights," Araghchi told reporters.
Under a previous agreement, Iran had committed to keeping the strait open and free for 60 days during negotiations. Following the incident with the Ever Lovely, Iran reportedly attacked the Panama-flagged tanker M/T Kiku. In response, U.S. fighter jets conducted strikes on 10 Iranian military targets in and near the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump reacted strongly to the events, accusing Iran of violating the cease-fire agreement. "It is very possible that they will never learn! There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started," Trump stated on Truth Social. He further warned, "If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!"
Vice President JD Vance, who had recently been in Switzerland for talks with Tehran, urged Iran to cease its attacks in the region to avoid further U.S. retaliatory actions, stating, "Violence will be met with violence."
The exchange of attacks has jeopardized a fragile peace deal, reached less than a week prior after talks in Switzerland aimed at a permanent agreement. Shipping experts have cautioned that the ongoing hostilities could deter vessels from crossing the strait for an extended period.