Iran expands claimed control zone in Strait of Hormuz, challenges maritime norms

Iran has announced a significant expansion of the area around the Strait of Hormuz over which it claims military control, in an effort to assert its sovereignty over the key trade route.

A map published by Iran’s newly created Persian Gulf Strait Authority claims Iranian armed forces oversight across more than 22,000 square kilometers (8,800 square miles).

The claimed zone extends into the territorial waters of Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

The UAE dismissed Iran’s claims, with the government describing them as “nothing but fragments of dreams.”

Iran’s new authority stated that all transit through the strait “requires coordination with and authorization from the Persian Gulf Strait Authority.”

The United States and Gulf allies have repeatedly rejected Iranian attempts to assert control over the strait.

The U.S. has instructed ships not to comply with Iran’s rules.

Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, said Iran is “trying to consecrate a new reality born from a clear military defeat, but attempts to control the Strait of Hormuz or encroach on the UAE’s maritime sovereignty are nothing but fragments of dreams.”

Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, ships are guaranteed safe passage through another country’s waters, but Iran has not ratified this convention.

Media linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps this week published footage showing what it claimed was a “punishment” strike on a tanker in the strait.

BBC Verify analysis shows that key characteristics of the vessel in the footage match the Barakah, a Liberian-flagged tanker that reported being struck by unknown projectiles in early May, according to the ship’s operators.

Iran’s push for greater control over the area around the Strait of Hormuz comes as U.S. forces boarded an Iran-bound oil tanker on Wednesday.

The U.S. military’s Central Command said the vessel was suspected of violating the American blockade of Iranian ports.

Footage published by Centcom shows U.S. Marines rappelling from a helicopter onto the deck of a ship, identified as the oil tanker Celestial Sea, in the Gulf of Oman.

In a social media post, Centcom said the ship was “suspected of attempting to violate the US blockade by transiting toward an Iranian port.”

“US forces subsequently released the vessel after conducting a search and directing the crew to alter course,” according to maritime risk management company Vanguard.

The Celestial Sea has previously been sanctioned under a previous name by the U.S. for its links with Iran.

Tracking data from MarineTraffic shows the ship is now reporting its destination as the port of Duqm in Oman.

Centcom said it has redirected 91 commercial ships since the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports came into effect on April 13.

President Donald Trump said Monday he was holding off a military attack on Iran planned for the following day at the request of Gulf states because “serious negotiations are now taking place.”

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had been asked to do so by the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Pakistan’s military chief is reported to be visiting Tehran on Thursday in an attempt to mediate peace efforts between Iran and the U.S.

Iranian state media reported that Asim Munir will be continuing talks with senior Iranian officials.

The Iranian foreign ministry said it was reviewing the latest proposals from the U.S. on ending the war.

Trump suggested he could wait a few days for Tehran to agree to the new deal but was also willing to resume attacks on the country. “Believe me, if we don’t get the right answers, it goes very quickly. We’re all ready to go,” the president said.