According to Al Jazeera reports, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that Iran and Oman are the only two countries with the right to "exercise sovereignty" over the Strait of Hormuz. In a speech broadcast by Iran's state television, Gharibabadi revealed that Iran has implemented a new "traffic and navigation control" procedure in the waterway, but stressed that the arrangements were made in coordination with Oman.
Gharibabadi's remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to "blow up" Oman if the country does not act "like other nations" regarding the strait. The Iranian official said Tehran had urged Oman not to "succumb to" American threats. The Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean, is one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints, with roughly one-fifth of global petroleum consumption passing through it. Any dispute over sovereignty or changes to navigation rules could have major implications for energy markets and regional stability.