TEHRAN – The battle over Hormuz has taken another turn as Tehran firmly rejected Oman’s proposal for joint management of key route, insisting it will not compromise on control of the strategic waterway. The decision comes as military tensions intensify across the Gulf, sending global oil prices higher and raising fresh fears over regional stability. Iran toughened its stance over the critical oil shipping corridor as military tensions across the Middle East intensified on Wednesday. The move deals major blow to diplomatic efforts aimed at easing months of disruption in Gulf trade after the strategic waterway became a flashpoint following US and Israeli military strikes on Iran earlier this year. Despite rejecting the proposal, Tehran reiterated that it considers Oman an important regional partner.