Iran's Supreme Leader Advisor: Control of the Strait of Hormuz is Like Possessing a "Nuclear Bomb"

SadaNews - An advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, stated on Friday that controlling the strategic Strait of Hormuz is akin to possessing a "nuclear bomb", promising not to squander it. Advisor Mohammad Mokhber pointed out that Iran has "neglected" its unique position at the strait, which is a vital passage for oil and gas shipments, and closed it shortly after the outbreak of the US-Israeli war, leading to market disruptions and halting navigation there. In a video published by the Mehr news agency, Mokhber said, "The Strait of Hormuz is a precious opportunity on par with a nuclear bomb". He noted that Iran's geographical location "allows it, with one decision, to impact the economy of the entire world", describing this as a "great opportunity". While pledging not to squander the gains from this war, he emphasized that Iran will work to "change the (legal) regime of this strait", through international law if possible, and unilaterally if that is not feasible. Mokhber did not specifically address imposing fees on ships for crossing the waterway, but the maritime news publication "Lloyd's List" reported on Friday that Iran has established an authority to manage navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, responsible for granting ship passage and collecting tolls. Iranian officials had previously discussed establishing such a system, and a senior parliamentarian mentioned in April that Tehran had received its first revenues from fees imposed on crossing the strait. The United States, which waged a war alongside Israel against the Islamic Republic, considers imposing tolls in the Strait of Hormuz to be unacceptable, a stance shared by the International Maritime Organization, affiliated with the United Nations. The strait has become a major bargaining chip in negotiations aimed at ending the war, as Iran considers a US proposal to extend the current truce in the Gulf, which would allow discussions to reach a final settlement of the conflict.