The Strait of Hormuz has become the center of a fresh geopolitical confrontation as Iran insists its control over the strategic waterway is "non-negotiable." While the U.S. opposes any shipping fees, reports suggest Oman has proposed a new framework that could reshape maritime transit after months of conflict. Iranian officials argue the era of free passage is over, while Washington insists commercial navigation must remain unrestricted. Is the latest dispute the next flashpoint in the U.S.-Iran standoff?

Iran’s attempt to monetise and control passage through the Strait of Hormuz risks destabilising the UNCLOS-based global trade and maritime order

Tehran believes it should control the shipping route but its neighbour has its own plans for reopening it