India, April 10 -- Iran is honing its most potent tool as diplomacy falters. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital shipping route that almost one-fifth of the world's oil supply passes through. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei made statements that blatantly hinted to a change in administration of the Strait from simple control to a more assertive and strategic phase.

In a statement read out on state television, Mojtaba said Iran would move into a "new phase" in handling the strait, indicating that Tehran's approach could become more structured-and potentially more restrictive-in the coming days. The strait has already faced major disruptions since the conflict in the Middle East escalated.

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