Iranian Official Explains Details of New Law Project for Controlling the Strait of Hormuz

- The spokesman for the National Security Committee in the Iranian Parliament, Hassan Qashqavi, explained on Friday the details of a new Iranian law project for managing the Strait of Hormuz, stating that it "prohibits Israeli and hostile ships, as well as those from countries participating in the war against Iran, from crossing the strait." Qashqavi added that the law project titled "Strategic Action for Securing Security and Sustainable Progress in the Strait of Hormuz" differs significantly from previous laws, particularly as Article 16 stipulates the cancellation of conflicting laws, according to the semi-official Iranian news agency "Tasnim."

The Iranian official stated that according to the law project, "Iranian management will be imposed on the Strait of Hormuz, taking into account national security and national interests, and will almost maintain the possibility of applying Iranian management on both entry and exit. On the other hand, Iran will certainly cover the costs that usually arise for environmental preservation, navigation, refueling, and others," according to "Tasnim."

The spokesman for the National Security Committee in the Iranian Parliament indicated that the law project stipulates that "Iran will charge for the costs of the services it provides, and that ships belonging to the Zionist entity and hostile countries, as well as those conducting military operations against us or carrying military shipments, cannot cross the Strait of Hormuz." The Iranian official clarified that "other ships owned by non-hostile countries must obtain a permit from the General Staff of the Armed Forces in accordance with the regulations set forth in the law," as reported by "Tasnim."

He said that "another part of this project concerns the name (Persian Gulf); meaning that all documents and discussions must use this name and not any other designations," according to him. He mentioned that "the project is awaiting its transfer to the parliament's general session for a vote," according to "Tasnim."

Recently, the U.S. Treasury Department included the newly established Iranian authority aimed at forcing shipping companies to comply with its regulations regarding the Strait of Hormuz on the list of U.S. sanctions. The authority for the strait was added to the Treasury Department's list, generally prohibiting Americans from dealing with it.

The U.S. Treasury Department stated in a statement that the establishment of this body is a new attempt by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard "to achieve financial gains through state-sponsored terrorism campaigns, by extorting ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz." Iran has sought to implement a new protocol for crossing the Strait of Hormuz since it effectively closed this vital waterway following the start of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran on February 28 of last year. The state-affiliated news agency "Noor" reported that the body was established on May 5 of last year, as a "legal entity and official representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran, responsible for issuing permits and regulating maritime traffic" through the strait.