Overview
- Iran’s parliament security chief Ebrahim Azizi said Saturday that Tehran has set a managed route through the Strait of Hormuz, will charge for “specialised services,” and will limit use to commercial ships from countries that cooperate with Iran, without disclosing fee levels.
- Iranian state TV reported that European countries are now talking to the Revolutionary Guards for passage, and the Guards claimed they cleared dozens of East Asian ships after the vessels accepted Iran’s management rules.
- Britain and France are preparing a defensive multinational mission to clear mines and escort merchant ships once conditions allow, with more than two dozen nations pledging support for free navigation and mine‑clearance under international law.
- After President Trump’s talks in Beijing this week, Washington and Beijing both said the strait should reopen, and the U.S. energy chief said the military could force it if Iran keeps blocking traffic even as diplomacy remains the first choice.
- The disruption is biting hard, with Iraq saying it exported only 10 million barrels through Hormuz in April versus about 93 million before the war and U.S. drivers paying higher pump prices as insurance and shipping risks keep most traffic out of the corridor.