ما الذي تريد طهران فرضه في المضيق من خلال شروط جديدة بخصوص عبور السفن عبر مضيق هرمز؟ — Monday 18 May 2026Iran's latest demands for oversight of vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz mark a sharp escalation in diplomatic pressure aimed at breaking the current impasse in talks mediated by Pakistan. Speaking on Al Jazeera, Qatari academic Abdullah Bandar al-Otaibi described the new security protocol as a deliberate challenge to international maritime law, framing it as a straightforward exchange: Tehran would guarantee safe energy flows in return for an end to the American naval presence that has tightened around its southern coast. For Gulf states whose economies rest almost entirely on oil exports passing through the narrow waterway, the proposal raises immediate concerns about higher insurance costs and possible disruptions at a time when global markets remain sensitive to any hint of instability. The move comes as both Washington and Tehran appear constrained by domestic politics. President Trump faces pressure from hardliners at home who view any concession as weakness, while Iranian leaders must contend with factions that see compromise as surrender. This mutual rigidity has left Islamabad with the difficult task of finding enough common ground to keep negotiations alive. Without stronger Pakistani involvement, observers in the region fear the standoff could drift toward further naval posturing rather than genuine de-escalation. From Beirut to Doha, analysts worry that any prolonged closure or restriction of the strait would hit regional importers and exporters alike, particularly smaller economies already struggling with inflation and reduced foreign investment. The Hormuz chokepoint remains the clearest reminder that energy security in the Middle East is inseparable from broader questions of sovereignty and power.Watch the full video from Al Jazeera English below.