President Donald Trump declared on May 27 that neither Iran nor Oman will be permitted to control the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes every day.
“Nobody’s going to control (the strait),” Trump said, insisting the passage must remain open to all international shipping. Trump had previously claimed significant progress toward a broader peace framework in the region. Those claims now look premature, as negotiations appear to have stalled in the wake of the toll dispute.
What’s actually happening in the strait
In mid-May, reports surfaced that Iran had been negotiating revenue-sharing arrangements with Oman that would effectively create a toll system for ships transiting the strait. The proposal would have given both nations a financial stake in controlling passage through the waterway, a move the US views as fundamentally incompatible with freedom of navigation.
Trump warned that any actions by Oman suggesting toll collection or control over the strait would lead to military consequences.
