Hormuz Strait Dispute: US and Iran Face Off Once Again

The recent tensions between the US and Iran are rooted in differences over control of the Strait of Hormuz and international shipping passing through it. During the war with Israel and the US, Iran did not limit itself to just missile and drone attacks, but also closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy chokepoint, resulting in a significant increase in oil prices in the global market. After the ceasefire, Iran considered its influence over the Strait of Hormuz a major strategic victory, while the US maintained that the waterway should remain open to international navigation as before. According to analysts, this fundamental difference has once again given rise to military tensions between the two countries.

A report on Monday alleged that Iran had targeted at least three commercial ships that deviated from the designated route set by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In response, the US launched airstrikes on multiple targets in southern Iran, while Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on US military bases in the region.

US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) agreed upon for a ceasefire and negotiations between the two countries was no longer effective, following which attacks continued from both sides on Thursday. Experts say the MoU lacks a clear mechanism for the management of the Strait of Hormuz.

Technical-level talks are ongoing between the US and Iran, with US authorities tasking Iran with clearing mines and ensuring safe maritime traffic under the agreement, as well as not charging fees to commercial ships for the initial 60 days. The agreement also states that Iran, Oman, and Gulf countries will consult on the management and maritime services of the Strait of Hormuz in the future, which both parties are interpreting differently. Iran's stance is that ships passing through the strait must communicate and coordinate with it, while the US rejects this stance, considering it an international waterway.

The US Central Command (Centcom) said Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz, and US forces have assisted in the safe movement of hundreds of commercial ships and millions of barrels of crude oil since May. On the other hand, Iranian experts say that monitoring the Strait of Hormuz is crucial not only for potential revenue but also as an effective defensive deterrent against any future US or Israeli action.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz led to a sharp increase in global oil prices, with petrol prices also rising significantly in the US, resulting in increased inflation and public unrest. After the ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz brought stability to global markets, with oil prices decreasing and stock markets improving, but tensions escalated again just days later. Experts say the current MoU was only a framework to stop the war, not a permanent peace agreement, and the US and Iran are trying to enforce their own interpretations of the agreement, with the Strait of Hormuz being the first major test of this difference.

Analysts say that while clashes between the two countries have intensified, factors such as Iran's economic difficulties, rising energy prices in the US, and upcoming US midterm elections may force both sides to avoid full-scale war. According to Mehr News Agency, three more explosions were reported in the southern city of Konarak. Ehsan Jahangir, deputy governor of Bushehr for political and security affairs, told the official news agency that several areas of the province were targeted today, including the area around a nuclear facility, a military base in the city of Choghadak, and a fishing port in the southern part of the province.

He said the explosion heard in the city was due to the action of the air defense system, but there were no reports of casualties. According to Al Jazeera, the US Central Command (Centcom) denied involvement in the explosions, saying the US military had not conducted any airstrikes or military operations in Iran in the past few hours. Media reports suggest that the US and Iran have been exchanging attacks since July 7, with Tehran targeting several US military sites in the Gulf region, including in Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait, putting pressure on the ceasefire agreed upon in mid-June.