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First Ships, Unresolved Mines: Who Assures Safe Passage Now?

The strait has begun to reopen — three Iranian tankers out on 16 June, about seven ships since the announcement against a baseline of 120-140 a day. With the blockade lifted and the PGSA sanctioned, who assures a transiting ship arrives safely? Mines remain (clearance ~two months); administration goes to Iran-Oman with no Western role, but mine-clearing and escort fall to a UK/France/US coalition. Administration and assurance are split between parties who don’t coordinate. This post reads the assurance vacuum.

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The GCC’s ‘Permanent, Long-Term Arrangement’ and the May 5 UN Draft Resolution

The 28 April Jeddah communique called for a ‘permanent, long-term arrangement’ for the Strait of Hormuz. The 5 May US-Bahrain UN draft resolution, with the support of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar, asserted freedom of navigation in accordance with international law as the operating principle. The GCC has, in ten days, moved from regional consultation to formal multilateral institutional positioning. This post reads where the alignment sits and what it implies for the configuration that would close the gap.

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