DW NewsTensions are rising again in the Gulf with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard unveiling a new “area of control” in the Strait of Hormuz. The map, which was released on Iranian state media, appears to extend Iran’s claimed area of maritime influence to the shores of the United Arab Emirates, including its key port of Fujairah. The move comes amid new reports of missiles and drone attacks targetting the UAE, apparently by Iran. At the same time, the United States and Iran are locked in a standoff over control of the strait, with conflicting reports of naval incidents and military activity. In this DW News interview we speak with energy security expert Amir Handjani about:
- Why Iran may be targeting the UAE
- What Tehran’s new “control map” really means
- The risk to shipping and global oil markets
- Gulf unity and whether regional alliances are shifting
- The UAE’s decision to leave OPEC
- Whether Iran’s actions could fracture the oil cartel
- What the long-term impact could be on Gulf relations
Before the Iran war began roughly one fifth of the world’s oil supply was transported through the Strait of Hormuz. The US wants the Strait open to traffic, but Iran appears determined to exert its control over it.
