Europe and Allies Plan to Reopen Strait of Hormuz Without US

Middle Eastern outlets frame the crisis as a test of Washington’s judgment and of regional states’ ability to manage their own waters. Commentators stress that Gulf countries and European partners are exploring ways to reopen Hormuz that do not rely on US military escalation, including joint patrols and alternative export routes. Many reports say Iran is using the crisis to assert control over its neighborhood, while Gulf states try to avoid being dragged into a direct US-Iran clash that could hit their economies hardest.

• •Gulf governments and European partners are discussing naval arrangements that would allow escorted shipping through Hormuz without a US-led combat operation.
• •Regional commentators describe Trump’s threats to bomb Iranian energy sites as reckless and likely to provoke missile or drone attacks on Gulf infrastructure.
• •Iran’s tighter control of Hormuz and collection of transit fees are presented as part of Tehran’s effort to turn the strait into a bargaining chip.
• •Gulf oil exporters are accelerating work on pipelines and ports that bypass Hormuz to keep exports flowing.
• •Regional governments want any long-term security plan for Hormuz to give them a central role rather than leaving decisions to Washington and Tehran.