Iran has released a new map asserting control over the Strait of Hormuz, extending its reach into the territorial waters of Oman and the UAE. This escalation follows a blockade established in late February in response to attacks by Israel and the United States.

The 8,800 square mile claim of the Persian Gulf Strait Authority

The newly formed Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), an Iranian body established earlier this month, has announced that an 8,800 square mile area of the Strait of Hormuz is now under the oversight of Iran's armed forces. According to the report, the PGSA's claimed lines of influence stretch from Kuh-e Mubarak to just south of Fujairah in the UAE on the eastern side, while the western line runs from the western tip of Qeshm island to Umm Al Quwain .

The Persian Gulf Strait Authority has explicitly stated that any transit through this designated area for the purpose of passing through the Strait of Hormuz now requires formal coordination with and authorization from the PGSA. This move effectively attempts to transition the waterway from an international transit zone to a regulated Iranian corridor.

A global energy spike triggered by the loss of one-fifth of oil flows

The current instability is rooted in a stringent blockade that Iran placed on the Strait of Hormuz in late February. as reported, this waterway typically facilitates the flow of one-fifth of the world's oil, and the restriction of this traffic has already caused a massive spike in the global prices of gas , oil, and general energy.

This maneuver echoes a long-standing Iranian strategy of using the Strait of Hormuz as a geopolitical lever. By weaponizing a primary global chokepoint, Tehran is demonstrating that it can inflict systemic economic pain on the West and Asia simultaneously, turning energy security into a bargaining chip for diplomatic concessions.

Marco Rubio's warning of an Iranian 'tolling system'

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denounced the new map, accusing Iran of attempting to establish a "tolling system" within the Strait of Hormuz. Rubio further alleged that the Iranian government is actively trying to persuade Oman to join this initiative, which would effectively legitimize Tehran's control over the region's maritime traffic.

Despite the tension, Marco Rubio noted that there has been "some slight progress" regarding the situation. However, the U.S. Secretary of State remained firm on a core strategic red line, asserting that the fundamentals of the conflict remain unchanged and that Iran can never be permitted to possess nuclear weapons.

Anwar Gargash and the fight for an international waterway

The United Arab Emirates has reacted sharply to the PGSA's claims, with presidential adviser Anwar Gargash describing Iran's assertions of control as "nothing but fragments of dreams." Gargash has urged Tehran not to overplay its hand during the fragile ceasefire currently governing the broader Middle East war, insisting that the Strait of Hormuz must return to its status as an international waterway.

Several critical questions remain unanswered following these developments.. It is unclear what specific "slight progress" Marco Rubio is referring to, or whether Oman has provided any private response to Iran's attempts to bring them into the PGSA framework. Furthermore, the report does not clarify whether the PGSA intends to physically seize vessels that fail to seek authorization or if the "oversight" is currently a legal claim rather than an active military enforcement.