Large-scale funerals for Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei are continuing, taking place amid serious political tension both inside the country and beyond its borders. Tens of thousands of Iranians are streaming into Tehran’s spacious prayer hall to bid farewell to the late leader. The ceremonies, which began on Friday, will run until 9 July. Mourners carry portraits of Khamenei, his son, and his alleged successor Mojtaba Khamenei; many are dressed in black and wrapped in Iranian flags. In this context, US President Donald Trump said that Washington had given Tehran a week to return to talks “out of respect for the supreme leader’s funeral,” adding: “We did it out of our kindness,” and emphasizing that there had been no shootings between the sides during the mourning period.
At the same time, disputes are intensifying over the future of the Strait of Hormuz and shipping through it—this strategic corridor handles the transit of about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied gas supplies. The United States, Gulf countries and the international community reject any attempts to charge ships for passage, but Tehran is proposing an alternative in the form of the so-called “service fee.” Iran’s ambassador to China, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, said his country will “definitely introduce” a service fee as a state whose portion of territorial waters lies in the strait, уточнив that these will not be “transit fees” in the strict sense, and that friendly countries will receive “special” terms.
Iran has also warned against any military action in Hormuz after the UK and France announced their readiness to deploy a multinational military mission to ensure freedom of navigation. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Garibabadi said Hormuz “is not a stage for military theatrics by forces outside the region,” adding that “coastal states bordering the strait are responsible for its security.” He added: “As a responsible power and guarantor of the security of the Strait of Hormuz, we warn against any military action in it,” noting that this is a “serious warning,” and that whoever creates crises “will face the consequences of their adventures.”
Possible mechanisms for governing the strait after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States are also being discussed. The document guarantees the safe passage of commercial ships “without payment for 60 days,” but further steps remain unclear. Tensions in Tehran were reflected in a joint statement by France and Britain saying that Oman agreed to work with them to ensure shipping security in its territorial waters. French President Emmanuel Macron said the country had sent specialized demining equipment to the region, as well as two frigates and a maritime patrol aircraft, and that, in cooperation with partners, it is ready for the full restoration of shipping and to ensure safe passage through Hormuz.
Reports have also emerged of a proposal put forward by Iran and Oman to the United States, which envisages joint management of the strait between Tehran and Muscat, as well as the idea of charging administrative fees. However, according to sources, Oman has not yet submitted a complete official proposal, although consultations continue. As reported, US negotiators have “reservations” about the proposal, but intend to discuss it with the Omani side, believing they can settle the contentious issues. Meanwhile, the White House press secretary said Trump confirmed that Iran cannot charge for passage through Hormuz because it is an international waterway, and Axios reported that Trump’s envoys are trying to convey the idea that Tehran’s fee demands could “derail” the chances of reaching an agreement.
Military and diplomatic developments are accompanied by real navigational challenges: ship-traffic data show that shipping is still facing problems despite the resumption of transit. It is reported that at least eight ships suddenly turned near the coast of Oman before entering the strait, and some vessels changed course between Friday and Saturday as they attempted to leave the Persian Gulf. According to Bloomberg, later the routes of four ships were adjusted, and they are crossing the strait via Iran’s navigational channel, while the reason for the course change remains unknown. Iran has repeatedly stressed that passage through the strait must be carried out via a navigation route that it has designated and authorized for use.
In a statement that drew widespread attention, Russia’s Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev noted that the Strait of Hormuz has become for Iran “a weapon no less powerful than nuclear weapons,” adding that there is a “backup weapon” in the Bab el-Mandeb strait. In this way, the funerals for the supreme leader have become intertwined with an acute geopolitical crisis around a key maritime artery, where the interests of regional and global powers collide—and the future of shipping remains in question.
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- Who is Mojtaba Khamenei and why is he called the alleged successor to Iran’s supreme leader? - Mojtaba Khamenei is the son of the current supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, and an influential member of the clergy. He is described as a possible successor due to the lack of a formal succession procedure in the “velayat-e faqih” system: in practice, power can pass to a trusted person close to the leadership, although the final decision is made by the Assembly of Experts.
- What is the Iranian concept of a “service fee” for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and how does it differ from ordinary transit charges? - Iran often frames the passage of ships through its territorial waters in the strait as a service that requires compensation for ensuring security and environmental oversight. Unlike standard fees (for example, for pilotage or port services), this concept is not recognized under international maritime law and is political in nature, because Iran uses it to pressure shipping.
- What role does Oman play in negotiations over the status of the Strait of Hormuz, and what are its relations with Iran and Western countries? - Oman acts as a neutral mediator thanks to traditionally friendly relations with Iran and, at the same time, cooperation with the West (including military arrangements with the United States and the United Kingdom). It offers a platform for negotiations and often eases tensions by pushing for compromise on the strait’s status, such as initiatives for demilitarization or joint shipping management.
- What is the “Iranian navigational channel” in the Strait of Hormuz, and why are ships required to follow it? - The “Iranian navigational channel” is a route that Iran has designated as part of its territorial waters and on which, according to its claims, special safety rules apply. Tehran argues that ships must follow it to prevent collisions and pollution, but in practice this requirement is unilateral: international law (the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea) recognizes ships’ right of transit passage through straits used for international navigation without any obligation to follow a national channel.
Full version: Funeral ceremonies for Khamenei continue and debate escalates over the future of Hormuz