Iran offers free passage through Hormuz to nations expelling U.S. and Israeli diplomats, using the strategic waterway as leverage amid rising tensions.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has offered unrestricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz to any Arab or European nation that expels U.S. and Israeli diplomats, leveraging the chokepoint—through which about 20% of global oil and gas flows—as a political tool amid escalating regional tensions. The move comes amid ongoing military strikes, U.S. military deployments, and rising energy market concerns, with Iran asserting control over the region’s security and countering U.S. claims of conflict resolution. The U.S., under former President Trump, reiterated its commitment to maintaining open shipping lanes, while global markets remain volatile.