Iran’s Hormuz toll plan falters as Gulf nations side with US

Key Points:

• Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders met in Jeddah to coordinate their response to Iran's proposal to toll the Strait of Hormuz, with Gulf nations siding with the US against Iran's plan.
• Iran's suggestion, floated by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Oman, to share control of the Strait was rejected by Oman and other Gulf states due to Iran's recent attacks and regional aggression.
• Gulf allies, aligned with the Trump administration's stance, oppose Iran controlling or charging tolls for passage through the strategic oil chokepoint, viewing Iran's attacks as a serious miscalculation that damaged relations.
• Experts warn that Gulf nations' patience is running thin amid ongoing threats and closures of the waterway, with US-Iran negotiations currently stalled and potential for further conflict escalation.
• Qatar expressed a desire for a swift and lasting end to the war, emphasizing the need to avoid a frozen conflict that could reignite repeatedly over political disputes.