US, Iran continue to spar over Strait of Hormuz, Oman seeks to balance ties

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Saturday that it had disabled a Gambia-flagged vessel attempting to sail toward an Iranian port a day earlier.

In a statement posted on social media, CENTCOM said its forces observed the M/V Lian Star transiting international waters toward an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman and issued more than 20 warnings, informing the vessel that it was violating the US blockade.

CENTCOM added that US forces have disabled five commercial vessels and redirected 116 others since the blockade was imposed.

The development came despite US President Donald Trump's announcement on Friday that he would lift the blockade on Iranian shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, Iran continued to assert control over the strategic waterway. Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said on Saturday that the country's armed forces are exercising full authority over the management of the Strait of Hormuz, according to the official IRNA news agency.

The headquarters said all vessels, including commercial ships and oil tankers, must use routes designated by Iran and obtain permission from the IRGC Navy.

The IRGC Navy also warned on Saturday that any US interference in the "management" of the Strait of Hormuz would trigger a "strict military response."

Oman caught between Washington and Tehran

Oman's Foreign Ministry said on Friday that Oman and Iran agreed to uphold the freedom and security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with their respective responsibilities within their territorial waters and to safeguard regional interests.

Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday that Oman had assured Washington it would not impose transit fees on vessels passing through the strategic waterway.

According to Li Zixin, an assistant researcher at the China Institute of International Studies, Oman is facing growing pressure to balance its ties between the United States and Iran.

Sharing the Strait of Hormuz with Iran, Oman cannot afford to push Tehran into a corner, nor does it want to see the strait become a frontline for US military intervention, he said.

At the same time, Oman is wary of taking steps that could trigger US sanctions, particularly given its longstanding security partnership with Washington, Li said.

(With input from Xinhua)