Iran consolidates Hormuz control

Iran has implemented a new transit regime to consolidate control over the Strait of Hormuz, requiring vessels to obtain authorization and sometimes pay fees for safe passage.

The move follows months of maritime crisis and U.S.-led blockades.

Tehran has published a map claiming 'armed forces oversight' across more than 22,000 square kilometers of the waterway, a move that UAE officials have denounced as a 'pipe dream.' The U.S. military recently boarded an Iranian-flagged tanker suspected of trying to breach its own blockade, further escalating tensions in the region.

Energy experts warn that full oil flows through the strait are unlikely to return to normal until 2027, even if the current conflict ends immediately.