Trump's Iran Agreement Triggers Iran's Assertion of Control Over Strait of Hormuz
A deal signed by President Trump in June gave Iran official authority over the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Tehran's military to enforce the claim and ending a covert U.S.-backed effort to keep commercial tankers moving through the waterway.
For two months, commercial tankers crossing the Strait of Hormuz turned off their transponders under a discreet arrangement with the U.S. Navy, which provided limited air cover and radio guidance to keep vessels close to Oman's coast and away from Iranian detection. The covert operation helped increase traffic through the strait from May to June during a tentative cease-fire in the regional conflict.
The arrangement ended after President Trump signed a framework agreement with Iran on June 14. The deal's language, which granted Iran official authority over the strait and contained vague provisions, led Tehran's military to assert control, effectively halting the U.S.-facilitated traffic.
"Ships of the World, start your engines," Trump posted on social media after signing the agreement, urging oil shipments to resume.
Analysts note that the agreement's wording gave Iran a legal basis to enforce its claim, reversing the earlier covert effort to keep the waterway open for global energy supplies.