Iran has called on Persian Gulf states to cooperate on securing the Strait of Hormuz, while accusing the United States of being the primary source of regional instability.
The statement from an Iranian armed forces spokesman marks a shift in diplomatic posture, seeking to isolate Gulf Cooperation Council members from US-led security initiatives in the wake of recent military escalations.
While no immediate physical disruption to tanker flows has been reported, the diplomatic standoff complicates efforts to normalize transit security.
The appeal comes as shipping firms have already rejected a proposed US military escort scheme for the strait, signaling deep skepticism among commercial operators about external security guarantees.
With tensions remaining high following Iran's recent retaliatory strikes against US-linked targets, the call for a regional security pact underscores Tehran's strategy to frame the US naval presence as a destabilizing factor rather than a protective one.
For energy markets, the rhetoric reinforces the persistent risk premium embedded in freight rates and crude prices.
While no immediate physical disruption to tanker flows has been reported, the diplomatic standoff complicates efforts to normalize transit security.