Iran has announced plans to introduce a new mechanism for regulating maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important energy corridors. Iranian officials said the proposed framework would organise vessel movement through designated routes while strengthening trade security and enforcing national sovereignty in the sensitive waterway. Moreover, the system is expected to introduce structured monitoring and specialised services for commercial shipping operations passing through the strait.
Ebrahim Azizi, spokesperson for the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said the new arrangement would apply mainly to commercial vessels cooperating with Iranian authorities. He explained that only participating operators would gain access to the managed shipping corridor and benefit from the services provided under the mechanism. Furthermore, Iran plans to collect service charges from vessels using the route as part of a structured toll-based maritime system.
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Azizi stated that the traffic management framework was being developed within the legal boundaries of Iran’s sovereignty while ensuring the protection of international trade routes and shipping stability. He also suggested that certain operators linked to what he described as the “freedom project” would not qualify for access to the proposed maritime route. Meanwhile, Iranian authorities indicated that additional details regarding the shipping mechanism would be officially revealed after final approval and implementation planning.
At the same time, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirmed that Tehran was consulting with Oman regarding a suitable framework for managing the strategically important waterway. He argued that because the strait lies within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman, both countries should play a central role in determining future management policies. However, Oman has not yet publicly responded to Iran’s latest remarks regarding bilateral control of the passage.
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The United States has previously opposed Iranian attempts to impose control measures or transit fees on vessels moving through the Strait of Hormuz, citing concerns over international navigation rights. The waterway remains critically important because nearly 20 percent of global oil and gas shipments pass through the narrow maritime corridor each year. Additionally, the route serves as a major transport channel for fertilisers and other essential commodities linked to global supply chains.
Regional tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz have intensified repeatedly in recent years because of military confrontations and geopolitical disputes involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Earlier this year, following joint American and Israeli strikes on Iranian territory, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps announced the closure of the strategic waterway, raising fears of severe disruption to global energy markets. Consequently, the latest shipping proposal is expected to attract significant international attention and diplomatic debate.