Middle East Crisis

Strait of Hormuz
Gulf states support Oman's fee proposal for Hormuz

Oman has received support from several Gulf states for a proposal that would give Iran the opportunity to collect voluntary fees from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters reports, citing a source.

According to the source, Iran would not gain unilateral control over the strait and the fees would be voluntary. The model is described as similar to that in the Strait of Malacca, where Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore receive voluntary contributions to finance navigation, environmental protection and maritime rescue.

The US opposes the proposal, believing that mandatory fees would violate international law.

Iran has previously said that it wants to manage the Strait of Hormuz together with Oman, which controls the opposite side of the strait.

Iran War
Trump Colleagues Begin to Prefer Sanctions to Bombs

Top American officials are beginning to consider whether sanctions against Iran are more effective than bombs, Axios reports.

There are signs that the economic situation in Iran has worsened under the burden of fuel shortages, US sanctions and frozen assets.

“They are more afraid of the Treasury Department than the War Department,” says one source.

Another source claims that the Iranians are “begging” for more money in talks with US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.

On the other hand, Trump’s critics point out that the president has few good options left. Neither attacks nor sanctions are likely to convince Iran to agree to his terms. Moreover, analysts point out that Iran even earned more than expected from its oil in the first half of the year.