Iran on July 27 asserted its control over the Strait of Hormuz and stated that it does not intend to resume negotiations with the United States following President Donald Trump‘s suspension of a two-week bombing campaign that U.S. military leaders claimed had reached its limit of effectiveness.
The campaign, which spanned 13 nights and gradually escalated, prompted Tehran to shell American bases in retaliation. Trump halted the operation over the weekend, and Iran indicated it would also cease its attacks during the pause in U.S. bombings. A U.S. official stated that Trump’s decision was influenced by military leaders who believed the effort to undermine Iran’s control over the strait had maxed out its effectiveness.
A U.S. official told Reuters that military commanders advised the president because the list of viable military targets had been nearly exhausted. He also noted that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Kane, had raised concerns about the depletion of air defense supplies used to protect American bases in the region. Similar reports regarding recommendations from civilian and military advisors to end the campaign were also reported by the New York Times, CNN, Axios, and other American media outlets.
The U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, stated on July 26 that Trump suspended the campaign to create space for negotiations. However, Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, said at a televised press conference on July 26 that Iran does not seek to resume talks with the United States.
The suspension of the U.S. bombing campaign led to a decline in oil prices amid expectations of resumed global supplies. The price of Brent crude, which briefly surpassed $100 per barrel last week for the first time since May, had dropped by approximately 7.8% by mid-morning on July 27, falling below $90. Meanwhile, to demonstrate that the U.S. strikes had not achieved their objective, Tehran asserted that it continues to control the critical maritime route for global energy markets.
Iran’s statements about control over the strait
Several Iranian state media outlets reported an identical message citing an “informed source” who claimed that on the morning of July 27, Iran turned away six vessels that allegedly violated established passage procedures through the strait. According to the source, one of the vessels was involved in an “accident”. “As previously announced, the route through the Strait of Hormuz is the route determined by Iran, and other routes are unacceptable and have no outlet”, state media quoted the source as saying.
Trump initiated the renewed bombing campaign after Iran shelled vessels using a route through the strait promoted by the United States along the coast of Oman. Tehran insists that vessels must only pass through the channel near its coast, which it controls, and plans to introduce transit fees for this route.
Two weeks of renewed U.S. bombings resulted in numerous casualties in Iran, as well as the destruction of bridges, tunnels in the southern part of the country, and military facilities. Four American servicemen were killed in Iran’s strikes on U.S. bases in neighboring Arab states. Iran also targeted civilian infrastructure in the countries of the Persian Gulf, claiming this was a response to U.S. strikes on civilian targets.
Last week, Iran’s allies, the Houthis, threatened to extend disruptions in global oil supplies to another key waterway, declaring a blockade of Saudi Arabia’s oil industry in the Red Sea, which further drove oil prices higher. Meanwhile, the suspension of the U.S. campaign does not yet clarify what levers of influence Washington can use to achieve Trump’s goal of weakening Iran’s control over the strait.
Negotiations and regional consultations
Washington and Tehran agreed in June on a framework for negotiations scheduled for the end of August to address key issues, including Iran’s nuclear program. However, the parties interpret the provisions of the memorandum regarding the Strait of Hormuz differently: Washington maintains that the document guarantees freedom of navigation, while Tehran believes it affirms its right to control transit.
Iran aims to legally solidify its control over the strait by reaching a corresponding agreement with Oman, which controls the opposite shore. A high-ranking Omani delegation visited Tehran over the weekend to discuss the future of the strait. The foreign ministers of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia also held telephone talks with Oman’s Foreign Minister, Badr Albusaid, as reported by state media from these countries on July 27. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who initiated the war in February alongside Trump
