Iran establishes a maritime navigation management authority in the Strait of Hormuz
Iran has established a maritime authority in the Strait of Hormuz to authorize the passage of ships and collect transit fees, according to a specialized maritime publication, as efforts continue to reach an agreement to end the war between Washington and Tehran.
Lloyds List, which provides news and information on shipping and maritime trade, reported that the Persian Gulf Strait Authority has introduced a new framework requiring ships to obtain a transit permit and pay fees before sailing, based on a sample form it sent to shipping companies.
This form requires ships to provide detailed records of ownership, insurance, crew data and transit route that they intend to take.
Iran’s English-language Press TV reported on Tuesday that Tehran had established a system for exercising sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and that ships wishing to cross it had received rules regulating this via email.
Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz after the start of the US-Israeli attack on February 28, causing a disruption in the global energy market.
Following the ceasefire on April 8, Washington announced a naval blockade of Iranian ports, linking it to its continued restrictions on navigation in the vital strait for global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
US President Donald Trump announced earlier this week the start of a military operation to escort ships through the Strait, before announcing a day later that it was being suspended, citing progress in talks with Iran aimed at reaching a settlement to end the war.
Iranian officials have repeatedly confirmed in recent weeks their intention to change the standards of navigation through the Strait, by having Tehran control it and collect trade fees, the proceeds of which would be shared with the Sultanate of Oman, which lies on the opposite bank of the Strait.
In April, Iranian Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hamid Reza Haji Babaei announced that Tehran had received its first revenue from the transit fees it imposed in the Strait of Hormuz, without providing further details.
Prior to the announcement of transit fees, Parliament was considering imposing them on maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, while officials warned that shipping traffic through it “won’t return to its pre-war state”.
