New Iranian map redraws crossing borders in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Strait of Hormuz Management Authority has published a new  map showing the area of the crossing that needs coordination to obtain an Iranian license.

The authority, which was established to manage the strait, defined the area as "the line that connects Jabal Mubarak in Iran and southern Fujairah in the UAE on the eastern side of the strait to the line that connects the tip of Qeshm Island in Iran and um Al Quwain in the UAE on the western side of the strait."

It added that entering the area to pass through the strait would require coordination and permission from the Strait.

Iran prepares new mechanism to cross Strait of Hormuz

  Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei announced on Monday (May 18) that Tehran is working on preparing a new mechanism to regulate passage through the Strait of Hormuz, stressing at the same time that Iran will not accept any compromise related to its right to "enrich uranium."

Baghaei described both the United States and Israel as "a source of threat to the region," saying that Iran "is not an enemy of any country in the region," and that it calls on all parties to "be vigilant and wary of foreign plans aimed at stirring up division and discord."

The Iranian official revealed that coordination and consultation with the Sultanate of Oman on mechanisms for regulating traffic in the Strait of Hormuz continues, stressing the need to draw lessons from recent developments.

"The US presence does not bring security or stability, but rather represents a factor that destabilizes and threatens development and economic prosperity for all," Baghaei said.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman called on the countries of the region to enhance mutual trust and work to establish an "internal security mechanism" based on regional cooperation away from any external interference.

Iran begins collecting fees for crossing the Strait of Hormuz

On Thursday  (April 23rd), Deputy Speaker of Iran's Consultative Assembly Hamid Reza Hajibabaei revealed that Tehran has collected its first revenues from the transit fees it imposed in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The Tasnim news agency quoted Babaei as saying, "The first proceeds from the transit fees of the Strait of Hormuz were deposited in the Central Bank's account," while other media outlets quoted the same statement without providing further details.

Iran has allowed a limited number of ships to pass through the strait, which under normal conditions transits a fifth of global oil and gas flows and other vital commodities.

Earlier, Iran's parliament debated the issue of imposing transit fees before announcing the revenues, at a time when Iranian officials warned that maritime traffic through the strait "will not return to its pre-war status."

The Telegraph: Iran's mines reveal Washington's weakness

The British newspaper "The Telegraph" reported that the issue of Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz has exposed a serious strategic gap in US military planning, as Washington may find itself unable to reopen the strait without relying on European capabilities within NATO. Iran has planted sophisticated naval mines in the strait since the first two weeks of the war, making the region extremely dangerous and threatening global energy flows. The report quoted Pentagon officials as saying that removing these mines could take up to six months.

European supremacy embarrasses Washington

The U.S. has neglected mine warfare capabilities since the end of the Cold War, while European countries have continued to invest in minesweeping vessels due to concerns about Russian threats in the Baltic and North Seas.

He noted that U.S. Avenger demining ships are outdated and ineffective, and that new alternatives have not been tested in real war conditions. In return, NATO countries have pushed their capabilities into the region, with France sending an aircraft carrier group, Britain sending destroyers and autonomous demining ships, Italy deploying minesweepers, and Germany repositioning the Fulda for possible participation in any international operation.

The Telegraph concluded its report by emphasizing that the Hormuz crisis exposed a deep U.S. strategic miscalculation, as Washington underestimated Iran's ability to close the strait, while overestimating its ability to quickly reopen it without the support of its European allies.