Inside Iran’s Control of the Strait of Hormuz During the 2026 War

When war broke out in early 2026 following attacks involving the United States and Israel, Iran moved to effectively block or tightly restrict shipping through the passage. In response, the United States began an aerial campaign against Iranian targets on 19 March 2026 aimed at reopening the shipping route and protecting international vessels.

Iran’s current policy: control instead of full closure

Iran’s approach has evolved from outright blockage to managed passage under Iranian authority.

Reports indicate Tehran introduced a “prior passage permit system” requiring ships to obtain authorization before transiting the strait, part of a broader effort to assert operational control over traffic in the waterway. The system reportedly includes detailed regulatory requirements for vessels seeking transit.

This means the strait is not completely closed, but ships can only pass under conditions set by Iranian authorities. Analysts describe the strategy as using control of the chokepoint as a bargaining tool while avoiding a total shutdown that could trigger even stronger international retaliation.

Which countries’ ships are being allowed through

Iran has granted passage primarily to vessels from states it considers politically neutral or friendly.

Evidence from maritime monitoring and media reports indicates ships from several countries have been allowed transit at various points, including:

• China
• Russia
• India
• Pakistan
• Iraq

Iran has restricted or blocked ships linked to the United States or Israel, reflecting the military confrontation underlying the crisis.

Chinese shipping has received particular attention. Iranian officials and media reports say dozens of Chinese vessels have been allowed to pass, with some reports describing around 30 ships permitted through under Iran’s management protocols.

The selective access strategy reinforces Tehran’s political messaging: countries that avoid supporting the military campaign against Iran may continue trading through the strait, while adversaries face restrictions.

Iran’s five conditions for restarting U.S. negotiations

Tehran has also linked the shipping crisis to diplomatic talks with Washington. According to reports citing Iran’s semi‑official Fars News Agency, Iran will not begin a second round of negotiations with the United States unless five “trust‑building” conditions are met.

Those reported conditions include:

1. Ending hostilities across all fronts of the conflict
2. Lifting U.S. sanctions on Iran
3. Releasing frozen Iranian financial assets
4. Compensation for war damage
5. Recognition of Iran’s sovereignty claims over the Strait of Hormuz

Iran has described these demands as the minimum guarantees required before negotiations can resume, signaling a hard negotiating position while the maritime standoff continues.

How the United States and Gulf states are responding

The U.S. and its regional partners have taken both military and diplomatic steps in response to Iran’s restrictions.

Militarily, the United States has conducted operations aimed at protecting shipping and weakening Iran’s blockade capability. These efforts followed Iran’s move to restrict the waterway earlier in the conflict.

Diplomatically, Washington and several Gulf Arab states—including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates—have pushed for international action. They circulated a draft United Nations Security Council resolution calling on Iran to stop attacks on ships, halt “illegal tolls,” and disclose the locations of sea mines in the strait.

The proposed measure also warns that Iran could face sanctions or other consequences if freedom of navigation is not restored.

The strategic standoff

The result is a tense equilibrium: the strait is partially functioning but remains under heavy political and military pressure. Iran is using selective access and regulatory controls to maintain leverage, while the United States and its allies push for full freedom of navigation.

Because so much global energy trade depends on the waterway, the outcome of this standoff will likely shape not only the trajectory of the war but also global oil markets and maritime security policy for years to come.