WANA (Jun 26) – A vessel transiting the southern shipping corridor of the Strait of Hormuz, near Oman’s coastline, was struck by a projectile, in an incident that occurred while U.S. military aircraft were operating in the area.

 

According to data from the Match OSINT platform, the vessel was leaving the Persian Gulf and was reportedly operating in coordination with the United States. At the time of the incident, five U.S. military aerial refueling aircraft were observed over the Strait of Hormuz. Despite their presence and their ability to support large-scale air operations, no military response was launched by Washington.

 

The incident comes amid continuing tensions in the strategic waterway. Since the beginning of what has been referred to as the “Ramadan War,” the United States has repeatedly sought to alter the operational environment in the Strait of Hormuz through initiatives and military deployments, although those efforts have reportedly failed to achieve their objectives.

 

The developments have also reignited debate over the future management of the Strait. Economist Ahmad Ramazani argues that the waterway should not be divided into Iranian and Omani sections and that safe, free passage should be guaranteed for all countries.

A different view has been presented by economist Khosrow Mansouri, who argues that maintaining security and ensuring the uninterrupted flow of maritime traffic through one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes imposes substantial costs. He says international law allows a state providing such services to charge for them, creating a potential source of foreign currency revenue for Iran.

 

Meanwhile, reports indicate that Iran is studying a management model similar to that used for the Dardanelles Strait, a system that, according to published estimates, could generate tens of billions of dollars in annual revenue if implemented.

 

Within this framework, Iran’s negotiating team has introduced the concept of “Iranian Arrangements,” a proposed system that would include transit permits, designated shipping routes, and service fees for vessels passing through the Strait.

 

Economist Mohammad Pourshaban describes the proposal not only as an economic mechanism but also as a strategic deterrent, arguing that preserving such a framework would raise the cost of any future military escalation against Iran.

 

In a separate strategic assessment, the Diplomacy Think Tank at Sharif University has called for close coordination between Iran’s diplomatic institutions, military organizations, and other relevant bodies to safeguard these arrangements, describing them as an important element in strengthening Iran’s economic and geopolitical position.