In a move sure to rattle international shipping lanes, Iran’s IRGC Navy dropped a bombshell on Monday: a fresh nautical chart branding the Strait of Hormuz as squarely within Tehran’s grasp. This waterway, the world’s most critical oil artery, now bears the imprint of Iranian authority according to the elite force.
Details in the map pinpoint the zone from Kuh-e-Mobarak in Iran to south Fujairah in the UAE, and from Qeshm Island’s tip to Umm al-Quwain. Whether this redraws previous lines or merely reaffirms them isn’t specified, but the timing amplifies ongoing UAE tensions.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei weighed in on UAE’s OPEC departure, calling it no act of revenge yet slamming Abu Dhabi for allegedly supporting US and Israeli operations against Iran. Tehran vows steadfast OPEC loyalty despite the rift.
IRGC’s Sardar Mohebi issued a stern ultimatum: defy Hormuz protocols, face interception. Fars News quoted him affirming no procedural alterations—cooperating vessels on approved paths remain secure.
Echoing UAE’s Sultan al-Jaber, who framed the OPEC exit as self-serving, this episode underscores deepening divides. With tankers wary and navies alert, Iran’s map could trigger diplomatic firestorms and bolster its leverage in energy geopolitics.
