"World's Oil Chokepoint" Strait of Hormuz... Could It Fall Into Iran's Hands?

[Financial News, New York = Lee Byung-chul] As negotiations to end the five-month war between the United States and Iran enter the final stretch, a plan to hand over part of the control of the Strait of Hormuz to Iran has reportedly been included in the deal. If Iran gains management authority over this strategic passage, through which about 20% of the world's oil shipments pass, it is expected to significantly alter the balance of power in the Middle East and have a considerable impact on the global energy market.
According to Reuters on the 6th local time, the agreement under discussion between Iran and Oman includes a provision for Iran to manage ships entering the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz. Senior Iranian officials and Middle East authorities described it as "one of the biggest concessions Iran has secured so far."
Until now, the United States has maintained that it would never agree to hand control of the Strait of Hormuz to Iran. However, U.S. President Donald Trump recently said that "an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is imminent," prompting speculation that Washington's position may have shifted during the talks.
Under the proposal now being discussed, commercial vessels entering the Persian Gulf would use a route managed by Iran. Iran's Foreign Ministry also said it had reached a "basic agreement" with Oman on a plan for both inbound and outbound ships to pass through Iranian territorial waters.
Before the war, the Strait of Hormuz was freely used without a separate transit fee. If the talks are finalized, however, Iran is also seeking to impose a certain level of tolls on vessels using the strait. Iran is demanding 5% to 7% of cargo value, while Oman has proposed around 3%. The United States, by contrast, is said to oppose any tolls.
The negotiations, however, have not been finalized. Differences remain, especially over the scope of "control," ship inspection authority, and how tolls would be imposed. Gulf countries are demanding that ship inspections be jointly overseen by regional states and that any tolls be voluntary rather than mandatory.
Meanwhile, Iran has warned that it will launch retaliatory strikes on key energy facilities in the Gulf region if the United States attacks the country again.
According to multiple sources, Iran conveyed a message to Gulf countries saying that "if the United States attacks Iran's infrastructure, it will strike energy facilities and other strategic targets in the Gulf region."

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