Tehran: Iran's parliament is reviewing a draft bill that would significantly tighten state control over navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, including by banning vessels linked to the United States, Israel, and other countries Tehran designates as hostile, the semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported Thursday.
According to Anadolu Agency, the preliminary text of the Strategic Action for the Security and Sustainable Development of the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf is being reviewed by parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee. Abbas Salimi, a member of parliament's presiding board, indicated that the draft aims to bar vessels from hostile nations, including the United States and Israel, from transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The proposal also seeks to prohibit the passage of military and civilian cargo linked to Israel, as well as vessels or cargo deemed to have supported operations against what Iran calls the 'Axis of Resistance.' Furthermore, countries and individuals responsible for causing damage to Iran would be denied permission to transit the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf until compensation is paid.
According to the draft, heavy penalties will be imposed for violations, including fines of up to 20% of a vessel's cargo value. The government would be required to work with the armed forces to oversee navigation, monitor vessel movements, and ensure security and environmental protection in the Persian Gulf.
Salimi noted that the bill remains under expert review and that parliament has invited specialists to submit recommendations before the text is finalized. The draft arrives amid heightened tensions over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, following months of regional confrontation involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
The proposal also coincides with ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Muscat on a new framework for managing navigation through the strait. This process followed an Iran-US memorandum of understanding reached in June, under which Iran and Oman were tasked with negotiating new arrangements for maritime traffic through the strategic waterway.
Earlier, the Tasnim News Agency cited an informed Iranian Foreign Ministry source stating that the proposed framework would initially retain existing northern and southern shipping lanes before transitioning to a centrally managed corridor. Under this plan, inbound vessel traffic would be managed by Iran, while outbound traffic would be jointly managed by Iran and Oman. The source also clarified that ships transiting the strait would pay fees for maritime services, rather than cargo-based transit tolls, and that proposed charges would depend on the scope of services provided.