US proposes placing Strait of Hormuz under international control — newspaper

Lead

The Trump administration has floated a proposal to place the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz under multinational control, according to a report from The Daily Telegraph cited by TASS. The initiative, presented by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a meeting of G7 foreign ministers, aims to ensure free circulation through the waterway without transit fees, according to diplomatic sources quoted by the British newspaper.

Coverage Comparison

TASS, the Russian state news agency, has carried multiple reports on the proposal, each approaching the issue from a different angle. One report focuses on the US initiative and the alternative plan involving Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia that would introduce transit tolls similar to those on the Suez Canal. Another highlights the opposition from the League of Arab States (LAS) to Iranian control of the strait, while a third centers on Russia's objection to transferring control to third countries.

No Western media reports are included in the available material, so the coverage reflects TASS's framing and the sourcing of The Daily Telegraph, which is not independently verified here.

Key Claims

The core claim, as reported by TASS, is that the Trump administration proposed transferring control of the Strait of Hormuz to a multinational consortium. This was allegedly presented by Secretary Rubio at a G7 foreign ministers' meeting, where he stressed that circulation should be free and without fees. An alternative plan, involving Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, is said to be under discussion, which would impose transit tolls similar to those charged in the Suez Canal.

According to TASS's report, Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz to vessels associated with the US, Israel, and countries supporting the conflict against the Islamic Republic. The report also states that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on March 25 that passage was allowed for friendly countries, including Russia, India, Iraq, China, and Pakistan.

Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General of the League of Arab States, was quoted by Al Hadath TV as saying that "the international community will not accept unilateral Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz." He also called for support of a draft document on freedom of navigation proposed by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that transferring control to third parties without the consent of all Persian Gulf states would not ease tensions and would violate international maritime law. She pointed out that the strait is 20 nautical miles wide at its narrowest point, meaning ships pass through the territorial waters of Iran or Oman, and that no legal mechanism exists to transfer control without Iran's explicit consent.

Perspectives

US/Administration Perspective

The proposal, as reported, seeks to assure free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, which accounts for a significant portion of global oil shipments. The alternative plan involving regional powers suggests a more formalized governance structure, potentially with tolls.

Iranian Perspective (as inferred from the report)

Iran's actions—closing the strait to certain vessels and allowing passage to others—demonstrate its assertion of control, which it justifies as a response to US and Israeli military operations. Tehran's position is that it controls the strait's traffic, a reality that Russia's spokesperson said even the US cannot challenge.

Arab League/GCC Perspective

Aboul Gheit's statement reflects concern over Iranian unilateralism and supports a multilateral arrangement, as exemplified by the GCC's draft document.

Russian Perspective

Russia opposes the transfer of control to third countries without consensus among coastal states, arguing it would escalate tensions and violate international law. Zakharova emphasized the need for Iran's participation in any initiative.

Contextual Notes

TASS's report frames the situation as a consequence of the US and Israeli military operation against Iran that began on February 28, which led to Iranian retaliation and the closure of the strait. However, this context is derived from the TASS report and may be partial. The LAS Secretary General's comment that Tehran is "acting irrationally" and his reference to attacks on Gulf countries suggest a more critical view, but the full context of those remarks is not provided.

The veracity of the reported US proposal and the alternative plan has not been independently confirmed beyond TASS's citation of The Daily Telegraph. The Russian Foreign Ministry's legal argument about the territorial waters of Iran and Oman is based on the narrow width of the strait and is presented as a matter of international law.