Iran has formally declared military oversight over more than 22,000 square kilometres of waters surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman through which roughly a quarter of the world's seaborne oil trade passes. A map published by Iran's newly created Persian Gulf Strait Authority asserts that all transit through the strait requires prior coordination and authorisation from Iranian forces — a claim that extends into the territorial waters of both Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

The UAE swiftly rejected the declaration. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, dismissed the claim as