Originally Posted by
henra
You can't force the Strait open militarily. Cue CMA CGM San Antonio. It seems she was one of three ships guarded through the Strait by one of the most powerful Destroyer Types. Now it is destroyed.
There have been approximately 40+ ships that have been attacked and, technically, written off since the conflict began on February 28, 2026. Project Freedom, which the CMA CGM San Antonio was part of the only convoy under that exercise, was fundamentally flawed, not least by not speaking to the Gulf Allies prior to it starting. In order to get the ships out of the Persian Gulf with a military escort, you first have to get your military escort into the Persian Gulf and despite the obligatory denials, those USN ships did come under fire by way of warning shots (nothing was actually hit but they were fired upon). That alone along with the unannounced plan to start Project Freedom...it is always useful to keep locally placed Allies in the loop as they could be of assistance if anything goes wrong.....should have been a signal that Project Freedom, whilst good on paper, was maybe a risk too far in actuality.
In order to bring a balanced view from both sides of the Strait of Hormuz "fence".....
One of the most reliable Iranian news agencies....one that the majority of the world's media look to for accurate information...has announced that Iran and Oman (who both share territorial waters through the Strait of Hormuz) are in discussions and have been for quite some time and as late as last week to try and sort out a way to operate the Strait of Hormuz in a safe and secure way.......and without the need for the proverbial toll booth. These discussions do not include the US or Israel, it is purely between the two countries who share territorial waters and both countries desire to return to the pre-war state of the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking at a weekly press conference on Monday, Esmaeil Baqaei described the Strait of Hormuz as a highly important waterway for the entire world, saying Iran has always made extensive efforts to safeguard secure passage through the route and remains committed to ensuring that navigation is carried out with full safety.
He noted that the Strait of Hormuz lies within the waters of Iran and Oman and that the two littoral countries consider themselves responsible for ensuring safe transit for all nations.
Referring to developments after the US and the Zionist regime launched an unprovoked war of aggression that prompted Iran to adopt measures for its national security, the spokesman said such actions are permissible under international law.
He stated that the process is continuing and that Iran remains in constant contact with Oman to draft a mechanism capable of fulfilling that responsibility. According to Baqaei, expert-level meetings were held in Muscat last week and contacts are ongoing.
Commenting on claims regarding the collection of fees for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the spokesman said reducing the issue of new arrangements for ensuring safe transit in the waterway to merely a financial matter is a deviation from the main issue.
He noted that it is natural for any coastal country to receive payments for services it provides, but stressed that the core issue is ensuring secure navigation and taking measures to preserve national security.
More of this :
Iran in Contact with Oman on Hormuz Mechanism: Spokesman (Tasnim - May 18, 2026)
Some people will inevitably say that Tasnim are biased towards their own country of Iran, Iranian thoughts, opinions and values.......well, let us be honest, every country's media is biased towards their own country's thoughts, opinions and values, that is an inevitable part of being the "flagship" media company for any country. Iran and Tasnim are no different in that to any other government preferred or associated media agency.
Sea traffic via the Strait of Hormuz was unhindered prior to the conflict, there had not been any issues or animosity towards or from Iran for many years in regard to the Strait and its security or safety. The fact that Iran is in discussions with Oman over the Strait and that both Pakistan and now Qatar are in discussions with Iran to get the currently stalled talks with the US and Israel restarted shows a willingness on Iran's part to move forward. They all need the US and Israel to move forward too.
In my daily updates, I mention the Bab-el-Mandab Strait that joins the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea. This area has been subject to piracy and to ship attacks committed by the Houthi. It is well documented that the Houthi are aligned with the Iranian regime and what happens in Iran by way of hostilities thus placing the Strait of Hormuz in danger will do the same for the Bab-el-Mandab Strait. It should be stressed that the Houthi are in the north of Yemen and not anywhere near Aden in the south. Having been to Aden myself more than once, there is palpable hatred of the northern areas of the country and has been that way for many many decades (a very close friend of mine was stationed in Aden with the UN - 1963-7). Therefore it is important that Yemeni people are not painted with the same brush as the radical element to the north, the Houthi. It also needs to be said that the Houthi are not included in the current Iran / Israel /Lebanon / Gaza / US ceasefires, they are bubbling under the surface. To that end, there has been a statement of Houthi leadership condemning the ongoing attacks tween Israeli forces and Hezbollah, if these attacks continued, the Bab-el-Mandab Strait could be shut down by the Houthi which must be avoided.
More on this :
Official Stresses Yemeni Ansarullah’s Support for Hezbollah against Israel (Tasnim - May 16, 2026)
There is, therefore, much to play for and much to discuss and negotiate tween the main antagonists....with Oman, Qatar and Pakistan all doing their part to get those antagonists around the table and with Iran being the most willing to do so, the next move from the US and Israel will mean either the world returns to relative (if more suspicious) normality or the current trade, civilian, military, shipping losses will increase.
There is far more riding on the proposed negotiations headed by Qatar, Pakistan and Oman than a regime change, the handover of uranium or any other reason thusfar given for the hostilities that began on February 28, 2026. Too many lives have been lost on all sides both military and civilian and as Mr Xi rightly said, this was a war that should never have been started.