Iran Asserts Control of Strait of Hormuz Amid Stalled Nuclear Negotiations

Iran is increasingly attempting to normalize its de facto control over the Strait of Hormuz. On May 22, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy (IRGC-N) claimed that dozens of vessels transited the waterway only after obtaining Iranian "permission" and "security." Analysts suggest this effort aims to frame a coercive protection racket as a legitimate maritime security regime, fundamentally challenging regional energy security and international shipping norms. Simultaneously, regional tensions are escalating through Iran’s proxy network. Iranian-backed Iraqi militias have been linked to a series of drone attacks against Saudi Arabia and the UAE, including a significant strike on the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant. Within Iraq, militia leaders like Hussein al Saidi of Harakat Hezbollah al Nujaba have openly rejected U.S.-backed efforts for disarmament, signaling that Tehran’s regional influence through paramilitary groups remains a primary obstacle to stability. On the diplomatic front, mediation efforts led by Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir have yielded only "slight progress." While the Trump administration has submitted proposals regarding Iran’s nuclear program, Tehran has expanded its demands to include a withdrawal of U.S. forces from the "warzone" and a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon. While no major U.S. or Israeli kinetic strikes were reported in the last 24 hours, the broadening of Iranian demands indicates a shift toward a comprehensive regional security settlement rather than a narrow nuclear agreement.