Swapna Kumbar , Bengaluru - Iran is reportedly insisting that any agreement on the Strait of Hormuz leaves Tehran in control of which ships may pass and which routes they must take through the waterway. The reported position comes as Iran says the wording of the draft deal still allows it to maintain broad authority over navigation, fees, inspection rules and security arrangements in the strait.

According to reports, Tehran does not want to cede management of the Strait of Hormuz, even if a ceasefire or maritime deal is finalized. One report said Iran views the text as giving it exclusive authority to determine the nature of passing vessels, including whether a ship is treated as commercial or not. The same draft was described as allowing Iran to set routes, require vessel information, and decide on possible inspection if it deems a ship threatening.

The issue matters because Hormuz is a critical shipping choke point and a major route for global energy flows. Earlier U.S.-Iran discussions had suggested toll-free passage for a limited period followed by talks on future management with Oman and other Gulf states, but Iranian reporting shows Tehran is pushing back against any arrangement that weakens its control. That gap in interpretation appears to be one of the main obstacles to turning the pause in hostilities into a durable maritime understanding.

Iran’s message is clear: any deal on Hormuz must preserve its say over the strait’s operation. Until that dispute is narrowed, the agreement remains vulnerable to the same sovereignty and control questions that have complicated the talks from the start.