A Modest Proposal for the Strait Dispute: A Shared Pact Among Gulf States

Key Points:

• The conflict between the U.S. and Iran has shifted from nuclear tensions to control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passageway for one-fifth of the world’s oil supply, leading to renewed military confrontations and disrupted shipping traffic.
• Despite President Trump's assurances that the strait remains open, Iranian attacks on commercial vessels have caused a significant decline in maritime traffic, with diplomacy between the two nations effectively stalled.
• Military experts warn that attempting to forcibly reopen the narrow and strategically vital strait during ongoing hostilities would be highly dangerous and potentially futile.
• A proposed compromise suggests treating the Persian Gulf as a shared regional commons, charging oil tankers nominal fees for maritime safety and environmental maintenance, which could satisfy Iran’s control demands and encourage cooperation among the eight bordering countries.
• The proposal, inspired by a post-World War II European treaty model, aims to foster basic regional collaboration as a foundation for broader peace efforts, according to Esfandyar Batmanghelidj of the Bourse & Bazaar Foundation.