Iran says it will keep control of the Strait of Hormuz and may start collecting tolls from passing vessels again from mid‑August. The government has warned it will not engage in peace talks on other issues until an agreement on the strait’s control is reached. Last weekend, Iranian forces fired at four ships in the area. The strait lies between Iranian and Omani waters.
The move follows a pattern of heightened tensions in the region, with Iran asserting its right to regulate maritime traffic through the vital oil corridor.