Gulf nation sources have revealed a shift in U.S.-Iran diplomatic priorities, moving away from reducing Iran's missile program to focusing on uranium enrichment levels. According to Odaily, Tehran's control over the Strait of Hormuz is now implicitly acknowledged. Iranian security officials privately share this perspective, viewing the strait not as an emergency measure but as a long-prepared deterrent tool. The strait is described by sources as an invaluable asset rooted in Iran's geographical position, inseparable from its geopolitical ties. The core of the Hormuz dispute is less about who controls the strait and more about who sets the passage rules, reflecting a broader shift from fixed international norms to power-based rules.