A London-based research group has invoked the now-defunct European Coal and Steel Community to propose a coalition of Gulf states sharing control of the Strait of Hormuz. The proposal aims to de-escalate tensions by creating a joint governance framework for the world's most critical oil chokepoint.

The suggestion comes amid renewed Iran-Hormuz crisis that has accelerated Gulf states' efforts to build pipelines, ports, and rail links bypassing the strait. These infrastructure projects could reshape regional trade flows and alter tanker demand for decades, reducing reliance on the vulnerable waterway.

India has directed shipowners and recruitment agencies to stop deploying its seafarers on vessels transiting the strait, though compliance by shadow fleet operators remains uncertain. Meanwhile, the Adrian Darya 1 saga — involving 2m barrels of Iranian crude destined for Syria — highlights ongoing deceptive shipping practices that risk wider industry stability.