Iran insists on Strait of Hormuz control, hints at force; mutual escalation with Israel

Tehran links Washington talks to recognition of its control over the Strait of Hormuz and considers imposing shipping fees after the interim agreement ends, as Abbas Araghchi affirmed his country’s readiness to respond to any threat following statements by the Israeli defense minister.

Washington and Tehran’s negotiations intersect with rising regional tensions, after Reuters revealed that Iran is insisting on obtaining international recognition of its control over the Strait of Hormuz, and linking the completion of peace talks with the United States to resolving this issue, as Tehran and Israel exchanged escalatory statements regarding the possibility of renewed military confrontation, reflecting the continued dispute over post-interim agreement arrangements signed in June.

Reuters: Iran links Washington talks to control over Strait of Hormuz

Reuters quoted two senior Iranian sources as saying that Tehran seeks to obtain international recognition of its control over the Strait of Hormuz, while retaining the right to determine which ships are allowed to pass and the routes they use, in addition to imposing shipping fees after the interim phase of the agreement with the United States ends.

According to the sources, Iranian negotiators will not move on to discussing other points of contention in the peace talks with Washington before reaching a formal and permanent understanding on the status of the strait.

The sources explained that the interim agreement, reached in June to end the three-month war, currently allows ships to pass through the strait for 60 days without fees, but Tehran believes the text of the agreement grants it the right to oversee navigation during this phase.

They added that if the interim agreement is not extended, Iran intends to begin imposing fees on ships starting from mid-August, although the value of the fees or the collection mechanism have not yet been determined.

About one-fifth of global energy supplies, in addition to other vital goods, used to pass through the strait before the war, and Iran closed the strait when the war broke out and imposed navigation fees on some ships leaving the Gulf.

US-Iran disagreement over interpretation of the memorandum

According to Reuters, Iran’s position contradicts the United States’ interpretation of the interim memorandum signed on June 17, and Washington’s vision for the final arrangements regarding the strait.

US President Donald Trump had said last week that any fees on passage through the Strait of Hormuz would only be imposed by a US decision, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed during a meeting with Gulf officials that no country has the right to obstruct navigation or impose fees on passage through an international waterway.

In response, the Iranian side believes the agreement grants it the right to oversee navigation, even if it prevents the collection of fees during the transitional period, considering that understanding with Gulf states regarding transit arrangements is open for discussion, but is not a prerequisite.

In this context, Tehran announced its intention to hold talks with Oman, which shares geographical oversight of the strait, to discuss future transit routes.

Field incidents bring tension back to the strait

According to the two sources who spoke to Reuters, the Strait of Hormuz witnessed a shooting incident early this week after four ships attempted to cross the strait from the Omani side without prior Iranian permission, leading to a brief but intense exchange of fire with US forces.

One Iranian official said his country “will not allow a return to the pre-war situation,” considering that any future arrangements must include Iran’s right to regulate ship movement, prevent ships it deems a threat to its security, and impose fees on mandatory services provided within the strait.

He added that Tehran is ready, if necessary, to use force to impose these arrangements, warning of the possibility of renewed escalation with the United States if no understanding is reached on them.

Reuters quoted a second Iranian official as saying that the Iranian leadership considers what happened during the recent war a “historic opportunity” to consolidate long-term strategic gains in the Strait of Hormuz.

Mutual statements between Iran and Israel

In parallel with the Strait of Hormuz file, Tehran and Tel Aviv exchanged statements with an escalatory tone regarding the possibility of resuming military confrontation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X that any threat targeting the Iranian people or leadership “will be met with an immediate and powerful response,” in response to statements by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.

Araghchi added that the terms of the memorandum of understanding reached through mediation in Islamabad are “crystal clear and public,” considering that US President Donald Trump committed, under this understanding, to reining in Washington’s allies in Israel.

He continued that if Israel does not comply with what he described as Washington’s orders, Iran is “ready to teach them a harsh lesson,” affirming that his country “will not hesitate to protect its security.”

Katz: Israel will not wait for the threat to become reality

Araghchi’s statements came hours after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that his country “will not wait until the threat becomes a reality,” adding that if necessary, Israel will carry out a new strike on Iran.

Katz said during a memorial ceremony for soldiers killed in the Second Lebanon War that the events of October 7 demonstrated the need for preemptive strikes before the threat reaches the borders, noting that Israel had previously carried out “two preemptive strikes” originating from Iran, and that it may carry out a third if circumstances require.

Thus, the continued dispute over the future of the Strait of Hormuz and the interpretation of the US-Iran memorandum coincides with escalating political and military rhetoric between Iran and Israel, while negotiations continue between Washington and Tehran over post-interim agreement arrangements.

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Iran vows “stronger and more resolute” response and insists on its routes in the Strait of Hormuz

The terms of the Islamabad MoU are crystal clear and public for all to see.

POTUS has committed the U.S. to muzzling its pets in Tel Aviv. If they ignore their master, Iran will school them.

Any threat against our People and Leadership will receive Immediate Powerful Response. pic.twitter.com/VrKa259gYd

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) July 1, 2026