Iran takes control of Strait of Hormuz: warning to US and Israel
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that Iran bears sole responsibility for the management and full resumption of maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and that no other country or organisation bears any responsibility in this regard. When a strategic waterway through which one fifth of the world's oil passes becomes the subject of a unilateral statement, the world holds its breath. Iran is not just reminding of its rights — it is declaring a monopoly. And it warns: any interference will be seen as a violation of the memorandum with the United States. In these words lies not just diplomacy, but a direct threat to those who might try to challenge this control.
Araghchi, who was visiting Iraq, made the statement at a joint press conference in Baghdad with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. He warned that any interference in Iran's management of the strategic waterway would constitute a violation of the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US, signed on 18 June. According to Iranian sources, on Sunday all vessels transiting the waterway must continue to coordinate with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to ensure safe passage. Iran also published recommended shipping routes, advising vessels entering the Persian Gulf to use the corridor south of Iran's Hormuz Island, and vessels leaving to use the corridor south of Iran's Larak Island.
At the press conference, Araghchi also said that the Iran US memorandum of understanding includes a ceasefire on all fronts, especially in Lebanon, and that the US government is responsible for ensuring compliance. He also called on Israel to immediately halt its attacks on Lebanon and withdraw its forces from occupied Lebanese territory. Despite the peace memorandum and ongoing talks to reach a final agreement, the United States and Iran exchanged fire over the weekend. On Friday and Saturday, the US struck Iranian targets, citing "ongoing Iranian aggression against commercial shipping" in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with strikes on US military positions in West Asia.
Iran asserts its exclusive responsibility for the Strait of Hormuz — and does so at a moment when American bombs have already fallen on its positions and Israeli forces continue their operation in Lebanon. This is not just a diplomatic demarche. It is an attempt to seize the initiative and dictate the rules of the game. Iran publishes maps, recommends routes, reminds of the IRGC — and warns: if you do not follow our rules, do not complain about the consequences.
The question is whether Washington will see this as a red line or a challenge. And as tankers continue to transit the strait, every captain knows: his safety now depends not only on the weather, but on how seriously Tehran intends to control its waters.
As reported by CCTV+, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains tense, and Iran's statement could mark a new phase in the confrontation with the US and its allies in the region.
