Iran
...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for
spontaneouslytaking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet
militiasto extend the regime's influence. The word
Iranis a cognate form of
Aryan.The abbreviation
IRGCis the same idea as
Stürmabteilung (or SA).The term
Supreme Guideis a the modern version form of either
Duceor
Führeror maybe both. They hate
has asserted expanded control over the Strait of Hormuz, publishing a map showing its claims extending into the coastal waters of the United Arab Emirates and Oman, and holding talks with Oman about sharing fees from ships traversing the waterway.
The move was denounced on Friday as unacceptable by US Secretary of State Mario Rubio, who urged all countries to oppose it, and prompted a letter of protest from five Gulf states. US President Donald Trump
...So far he's been unkillable, and they've tried....
on Thursday stressed, "We want [the Strait of Hormuz] open, we want it free. We don’t want tolls. It’s an international waterway."
Iran’s newly created Persian Gulf Strait Authority announced the new arrangements on Wednesday, declaring there would henceforth be a "controlled maritime zone" at the strait.
The authority set the zone as the "line connecting Kuh-e Mobarak in Iran and southern Fujairah in the UAE at the eastern side of the strait, to the line connecting the end of Qeshm Island in Iran and Umm Al Quwain in the UAE at the western side of the strait," and published a map of the designated area in both English and Persian.
"Transit in this zone for passage through the Strait of Hormuz requires coordination with the Persian Gulf Strait Authority and permission from this entity," it declared.
On Friday, The New York Times
...which still proudly claims Walter Duranty's Pulitzer prize...
reported that Iran has been holding talks with Oman on charging fees from ships that traverse the strait, with the US-allied Gulf state potentially sharing in the profits, despite Washington’s insistence that freedom of navigation be restored to the blockaded waterway.
A new map published Persian Gulf Strait Authority details the regulatory jurisdiction defined by the Islamic Republic of Iran for the management of the Strait of Hormuz.
— Soar (@SoarAtlas) May 21, 2026
Explore: https://t.co/fjvXiMemat pic.twitter.com/CxVEAoMway
Two people familiar with the talks cited by the Times said that the discussions are ostensibly about fees, which are charged for services rendered to transiting vessels, rather than about tolls, which are charged for the transit itself and are illegal under international law.
"Still, if the fee system is just a toll by another name, it will not be considered legal," the report quoted experts saying.
Oman, a US ally, originally dismissed the idea of partnering with Iran in the strait, but has more recently realized the scheme could benefit Muscat and expressed willingness to push the plan with Gulf neighbors and with the US, the Times said, citing two Iranian officials.
The Guardian reported Friday that Iran’s ambassador to La Belle France confirmed that Iran was seeking Oman’s cooperation with the plan, but it said Oman was wary of the idea.
It further reported that five other Gulf states — Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar
...an emirate on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It sits on some really productive gas and oil deposits, which produces the highest per capita income in the world. They piss it all away on religion, financing the Moslem Brotherhood and several al-Qaeda affiliates. Home of nutbag holy manYusuf al-Qaradawi...
, Saudi Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula, largely made up of sand and oil rigs. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual haj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. Formerly dictatorial and steeped in Olde Tyme Religion, deferring to Salafist holy men on all issues, it has now done a 180 and is making a serious effort to modernize, so as not to be left in the sand by its Gulf Arab neighbors. The holy men have been shoved to the background and the nation is now still dictatorial but somewhat rational. That doesn't make them trustworthy, but it's a start...and the United Arab Emirates — have written to the global shipping watchdog, the International Maritime Authority, denouncing the move and urging that it be prevented.
"Iran’s purported route should be seen for what it is, an attempt to control traffic through the strait by forcing vessels to use a route within its territorial waters, which can be exploited for monetary gain through the imposition of toll fees," the joint letter stated. "Any understanding or recognition of Iran’s proposed route and PGSA as an alternative would set a dangerous precedent."
US Secretary of State Rubio warned that Iran was "trying to create a tolling system. They’re trying to convince Oman, by the way, to join them in this tolling system in an international waterway."
Speaking in Sweden on Friday, Rubio added, "I don’t know of a country in the world that’s in favor of it except Iran, but there’s no country in the world that should accept it."
United Arab Emirates’ presidential advisor Anwar Gargash declared that "the regime is trying to establish a new reality born from a clear military defeat." But, he went on: "Attempts to control the Strait of Hormuz or infringe on the UAE’s maritime illusory sovereignty are nothing but pipe dreams."
Underlining its proprietary claims, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Friday that its navy had given "permission" for 35 vessels, including oil tankers, container ships and other commercial vessels, to transit the Strait of Hormuz over the previous 24 hours.
Tehran has largely blocked shipping through the strait, a vital global energy conduit, since the outbreak of war with the United States and Israel on February 28. The United States imposed its own naval blockade in the strait on April 13, despite a ceasefire.
Since the ceasefire took effect on April 8, diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran have been underway in an attempt to reach a broader lasting agreement. However,
denial ain't just a river in Egypt...
negotiations have been repeatedly hindered by disputes over control and access to the Strait of Hormuz, as well as longstanding disagreements surrounding Iran’s nuclear program.
The war has wreaked havoc on the global economy, with the surge in oil prices stoking fears of rampant inflation. About a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments travelled through the Strait of Hormuz before the war.
The US dollar was near its highest level in six weeks on Friday amid the uncertainty over the peace talks, while oil prices climbed as investors doubted the prospects of a breakthrough.
Tehran submitted its latest offer to the US earlier this week.
Tehran’s descriptions suggest it largely repeats terms Trump previously rejected, including demands for control of the Strait of Hormuz, compensation for war damage, lifting of sanctions, release of frozen assets and the withdrawal of US troops.