Iran Pledges to Divide Hormuz Traffic by Geopolitical Loyalty

Iran's leadership is moving beyond asserting control of the Strait of Hormuz—through which 20 percent of global oil and gas flows—toward operationalizing preferential treatment tied to geopolitical alignment. Mojtaba Khamenei vowed to take strait "management to a new phase," while Iran's ambassador to China promised "special treatment" for allied vessels. The strategy weaponizes commercial shipping itself, rewarding Beijing and sanctioned partners while penalizing Western-aligned traders, transforming a critical waterway into an extension of Iran's alliance architecture.