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Iran is losing control of the Strait of Hormuz
CNN • • nation
Key Points:
- The United States is gaining control over the Strait of Hormuz, with over 80% of recent vessel traffic using the UN-authorized Omani route, which Iran opposes and has attacked ships for using.
- Iran’s control has weakened significantly, as most ships now avoid Iran’s preferred northern route, preventing Iran from collecting tolls on shipping traffic as it did earlier in the year.
- Key Gulf countries like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are using Very Large Crude Carriers and turning off transponders to evade Iran’s attacks, complicating tracking but still allowing substantial oil flow.
- Despite President Trump’s claims of “total control” over the strait, Iran’s ongoing attacks and lower-than-pre-war oil flow indicate neither side fully controls the waterway, though Iran’s deterrence capability has diminished.
- Oman and Iran are negotiating to restore navigation freedom without U.S. involvement, adding uncertainty to future control and oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
