Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran will control the Strait of Hormuz for the next 30 days [1].
This assertion comes as regional tensions escalate following U.S. strikes on Iranian assets. Because the strait is a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, any disruption to its navigation could trigger significant economic instability and increase the risk of direct military conflict.
Araghchi delivered the warning during a visit to Baghdad in May 2026 [2]. He said that any external interference in the control of the waterway would escalate tensions and delay the reopening of the strait [3]. The statement serves as a deterrent to external parties attempting to operate in the area after the recent U.S. military actions [3].
Tehran is asserting its authority over the security and reopening process of the waterway to ensure its own strategic interests are met. The warning follows a period of high volatility in the region, where military movements have become increasingly frequent.
Recent reports indicate a third straight day of military action testing the cease-fire [4]. These developments suggest a fragile security environment where both the U.S. and Iran are testing the boundaries of a tentative peace.
Iran maintains that its control over the strait is a necessary measure for security. However, international maritime laws generally guarantee the right of transit passage through such straits, creating a legal and military friction point between Tehran and Western powers.
“Iran will control the Strait of Hormuz for the next 30 days”
Iran's claim of total control over the Strait of Hormuz is a strategic move to leverage its geographic position against U.S. military pressure. By setting a 30-day timeline, Tehran is signaling a temporary but firm assertion of sovereignty to force a diplomatic or military recalculation from the West. If the U.S. or its allies challenge this control, the risk of a naval skirmish increases, which could lead to a spike in global energy prices due to the strait's role in oil transport.
