Vessels of "hostile countries" will have to pay for passage: Media reveal Iran's intentions regarding the Strait of Hormuz
Kyiv • UNN
Tehran plans to officially establish control over the Strait of Hormuz and demand reparations from "hostile countries." All other vessels will be required to obtain Iranian permission for transit through the strait.
The United States and Iran appear further apart than ever regarding one critical element of their confrontation: the future of the Strait of Hormuz, UNN reports, citing CNN.
Details
Navigation through this critical chokepoint, through which nearly a quarter of the world's crude oil typically flows, was not an issue until the outbreak of conflict in late February. Iran had not claimed control over it.
But within hours of the start of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, Iran warned shipping not to attempt to use the strait. Most operators immediately complied, fearing attacks by small Iranian patrol boats or drones.
In mid-March, a statement attributed to Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said that "the megaphone in the form of closing the Strait of Hormuz must certainly continue to be used."
Since then, Iranian officials have spoken of a new regime for the strait, essentially placing it under Tehran's control, which would be a violation of international law, infringing upon the "right of transit passage" for international shipping.
This prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to threaten massive retaliatory measures and order a naval blockade of vessels using Iranian ports. On Saturday, the U.S. military said it had intercepted 48 vessels and forced them to turn back over a 20-day period.
But some Iranian ships are still defying this. A fully loaded Iranian tanker, "carrying over 1.9 million barrels (worth nearly $220 million) of crude oil, managed to evade U.S. Navy control and reach the Far East," the monitoring group TankerTrackers reported on Sunday.
According to Iranian state television, Iran's parliament is set to approve a law formalizing control over the strait.
Press TV reported that under the proposed 12-point plan, Israeli vessels would never be allowed through. Vessels from "hostile countries"—likely referring to the United States—would have to pay war reparations to obtain permission before crossing the waterway.
All other vessels would be required to obtain Iranian permission to transit the strait, the publication reports.
"The Strait of Hormuz is completely under control, and no ship—whether friend or foe—can pass through it without our permission," a military spokesperson stated on Sunday.
Trump to review Iran's new proposal, but doubts its prospects03.05.26, 08:39 • 5898 views