Mae AndersonJul 14, 2026 – 12.00pmA focal point of the Iran war is increasingly about who controls the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow, elbow-shaped waterway that for decades was a relatively safe and reliable transit route for Middle East oil and natural gas supplies.By saying that an interim ceasefire gave it the right to establish the terms under which ships traversed the strait, and threatening and firing on vessels that did not use its preferred route, Iran has sought to exert control over the waterway and gain negotiating leverage with the United States.APSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles
US and Iran both claim control over Strait of Hormuz. Who’s right?
Donald Trump has borrowed from Tehran’s playbook and said the US now controls the waterway and will charge fees to ships for safe passage.
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