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TOI correspondent from Washington: Iran has moved to reassert control over the Strait of Hormuz within hours of Israel’s continued strikes in Lebanon, putting a squeeze on shipping movement just 48 hours before talks are scheduled to commence in Islamabad. Tehran’s actions—ranging from enhanced inspections to outright halts of tankers—have contradicted US claims that the strait remains open and secure.
The White House has dismissed reports of a renewed Iranian closure as exaggerated, insisting that any attempt to block the waterway would be “completely unacceptable.” Yet on the ground—or rather, at sea—the situation appears far murkier. But shipping companies report delays, rerouting, and heightened scrutiny by Iranian authorities, suggesting that control of the strait is, at the very least, contested. Physical stoppage is not even necessary; because of fears that Iran may have mined the straits, insurance companies are not covering ships, resulting in the vessels simply not moving. Compounding the uncertainty is a striking report in the Financial Times that Iran intends to impose tolls on vessels transiting the strait, payable in cryptocurrency. According to Iranian industry representatives, tankers would be required to declare cargo via email, undergo assessment, and then pay approximately $1 per barrel in digital currency such as Bitcoin—within seconds—to avoid traceability under sanctions. The Iranian proposal underscores Tehran’s broader strategy: to leverage its geographic advantage during the ceasefire window while testing new mechanisms to circumvent western financial restrictions. The fact that President Trump has suggested the US could partner Iran in extracting such a toll, legitimizing the gouging, has alarmed even Americans. This dispute over maritime control is only one facet of a much larger gulf between the US 15-point framework and Iran’s 10-point proposal, with divergences span nearly every critical issue: nuclear enrichment limits, regional proxy activity, sanctions relief, and control of strategic waterways. While the ceasefire has provided a temporary pause in direct hostilities, both sides appear to be using the interval to regroup and reinforce their positions.Indeed, President Trump himself all but acknowledged as much in a characteristically combative message on social media, warning that US military forces remain poised for renewed action if Iran fails to comply with what he termed a “REAL AGREEMENT.”“If for any reason it is not [complied with],” he wrote with cowboy swagger, “then the ‘Shootin’ Starts,’ bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before.” He added, with a mix of bravado and ambiguity, that the US military was “Loading Up and Resting, looking forward, actually, to its next Conquest.”Such rhetoric has done little to reassure skeptics—either abroad or at home. In Washington, criticism is mounting that the administration, despite inflicting significant military damage on Iran, may have inadvertently ceded strategic and diplomatic ground. Even within Trump’s political base, voices are emerging that question the coherence of the approach. The so-called “Taco Tuesday” jibe—short for “Trump Always Chickens Out”—has gained traction among critics who see the ceasefire as a climbdown rather than a calculated pause.
