Iran said it will soon unveil a new system to manage the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. With tensions rising over Middle East energy shipping lanes, the move is seen as Iran seeking to formalize control over the strait.
According to state-run IRIB and others, Ebrahim Azizi, Chairperson of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said on the 16th (local time), "We have prepared a professional mechanism to protect national sovereignty and the security of international trade," adding, "We will soon announce a plan to manage ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz."
Azizi said the new system will not apply to all vessels. He said, "Only commercial vessels and countries that cooperate with Iran will benefit," explaining that routes linked to hostile forces will continue to be blocked.
He also noted that Iran may charge expenses and fees in return for services provided to ships. Earlier this month, Iran said it had introduced a new traffic management method requiring prior authorization for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key sea lane connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. About 20% of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments pass through it, so if restrictions on passage materialize, they could directly affect international oil prices, marine insurance premiums, and Asia's energy supply and demand.
The United States and Western countries see Iran's tighter controls on passage as potentially infringing on freedom of navigation. Iran, by contrast, argues that the strait spans waters under its and Oman's jurisdiction and says the move is a sovereign measure to organize traffic order. The dispute over control of the Strait of Hormuz is emerging as a new source of instability in Middle East affairs.