Where until a few months ago unwritten rules applied, Tehran is now attempting to impose de facto control, directly challenging international law. But Washington, for its part, insists on a naval blockade aimed at suffocating Iran, while simultaneously causing suffocation in the global energy market.
Before the start of the conflict in late February, passage through the Strait of Hormuz was not a point of friction. Iran did not claim control, while navigation proceeded without major interference.
This picture changed dramatically within hours of the first US-Israeli strikes. Tehran immediately warned ships not to attempt passage, with most fleet managers complying, fearing attacks from speedboats or drones.
In mid-March, a statement attributed to Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, set the tone: “leverage through the closure of the Strait of Hormuz must definitely continue.”
Since then, Iranian officials speak openly of a “new regime” in the passage, which would essentially place it under Tehran’s control – a position that clashes with the right of “transit passage,” a fundamental principle of international maritime law.
The US reaction was immediate and escalating. President Donald Trump threatened “massive retaliation,” while ordering a naval blockade of ships using Iranian ports.
According to the US military, within 20 days, 48 ships have been intercepted and forced to change course.
However, the picture is not absolute. Some Iranian tankers appear to still be evading: a tanker with a cargo of over 1.9 million barrels – worth approximately $220 million – managed, according to monitoring services, to reach the Far East by bypassing US patrols.
At the same time, the Iranian parliament is preparing to ratify legislation that will institutionalize control of the Strait.
According to state media, the proposed plan includes 12 points, with particularly strict terms:
The confrontation over the Strait of Hormuz is not just another episode of the conflict. It touches the core of global energy security.
Tehran’s attempt to turn an international maritime corridor into a tool of dominance and negotiation, combined with Washington’s military response, creates an explosive mixture – with direct consequences for markets, the supply chain, and the geopolitical balance.
In this new landscape, the Strait of Hormuz is not just an oil corridor. It is the most powerful lever of pressure in the war reshaping the Middle East.
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