Iran asserts jurisdiction over Hormuz waters

Iran published a new map on May 22 claiming regulatory control over a stretch of the Strait of Hormuz that reaches into the territorial waters of the United Arab Emirates and Oman, according to Euronews. The move came as Iranian and Omani officials discussed a possible ship-payment system for transit through the strait, the New York Times reported. At the same time, ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran were reported to have made only “slight progress” on two unresolved issues — highly enriched uranium and navigation through Hormuz — according to the Institute for the Study of War. A Qatari negotiating team arrived in Tehran on May 22 to help try to close those gaps, Reuters and other outlets reported. ### How far does Iran’s new map go? Euronews reported on May 22 that Iran’s map asserted jurisdiction over waters that extend beyond Iran’s side of the strait and into areas claimed by the UAE and Oman. The report said five Gulf states responded by warning shipping companies, through the International Maritime Organization, not to comply with the Iranian map. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s main oil shipping lanes, and the dispute now covers not only military access but also routing and maritime administration. Euronews said the map was presented as a regulatory claim over navigation management rather than a formal annexation of territory. ### What is the toll system Iran discussed with Oman? The New York Times reported on May 21 that Iran and Oman had discussed a ship-payment system for Hormuz transit, including tolls and a division of proceeds. The talks suggested Tehran was exploring a way to formalize control over passage through the waterway after months of conflict and disruption, the report said. Firstpost, citing the Times report, said the proposal came despite U.S. opposition to any arrangement that would give Iran a recognized role in charging vessels for passage. Oman, which sits on the southern side of the strait, has been a central intermediary in wider diplomacy over the waterway and the war. ### Why are Gulf states pushing shipping firms not to comply? Five Gulf states used the IMO channel to tell shipping firms not to follow Iran’s new map, according to Euronews. The warning showed that Iran’s neighbors were contesting not only the substance of Tehran’s claim but also any effort to make commercial operators treat it as binding practice. (nytimes.com) The dispute matters because shipping compliance can create facts on the water even before a legal argument is settled. The Institute for the Study of War said recognition or compliance with Iranian transit rules could allow Tehran to achieve de facto control over the strait. ### What is still blocking a ceasefire draft? The Institute for the Study of War said on May 22 that U.S.-Iran negotiations had made only “slight progress” and that highly enriched uranium and the Strait of Hormuz remained the two main sticking points. (euronews.com) The report said it was unclear from public reporting where that progress had been made. (criticalthreats.org) The Irish Times, citing the same round of diplomacy, reported that one draft under discussion would defer the U.S. demand that Iran surrender its highly enriched uranium stockpile while focusing first on reopening the strait. Reuters separately reported that a Qatari negotiating team reached Tehran on May 22 in coordination with the United States to help secure a broader deal to end the war and resolve the remaining issues. (criticalthreats.org) ### Why is Qatar now in Tehran? Reuters reported that the Qatari team arrived in Tehran on Friday, May 22, in coordination with Washington. The source cited by Reuters said the team was trying to help secure a deal to end the war with Iran and close the remaining gaps in negotiations. (irishtimes.com) Qatar’s role adds another Gulf mediator to a process in which Oman has also remained central. The next test is whether negotiators can produce agreed language on navigation through Hormuz while leaving the uranium issue for later rounds, according to reports from the Irish Times and ISW. (irishtimes.com) (usnews.com)