Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has declared that the Strait of Hormuz will be administered by Tehran, according to state media reports on Tuesday.
The statement comes roughly a day after the conclusion of the first round of talks with the United States, signaling that diplomatic engagement has not yet resolved the core dispute over control of the critical waterway.
The assertion that Iran will retain administrative control over the strait, which also borders Oman, introduces a new layer of uncertainty for global energy flows.
While earlier reports suggested a fading risk premium in oil markets due to diplomatic progress, Ghalibaf’s comments reinforce the geopolitical stakes.
Traders and shipowners must now assess whether this rhetoric represents a hardline negotiating position or a genuine shift in Tehran’s stance on maritime security.
Brent crude prices had slipped earlier in the session as the market priced in a potential de-escalation.