Iran is preparing a bill to give the Islamic Republic authority over the Strait of Hormuz, allowing them to establish a right of passage and prohibit access to “hostile ships.” The Iranian army believes it should have authority over the Strait of Hormuz, according to a bill proposed by a senior official on Monday, April 27. The Iranian bill proposes that the main export route for oil and gas in the Middle East be placed under the authority of the Iranian armed forces, with passage rights to be paid in the local currency, the rial, as reported by Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the Parliamentary Commission on National Security tasked with reviewing the bill. Azizi specified that the armed forces would control the strait to, among other things, prohibit the passage of “hostile ships,” such as Israeli vessels. Control of the Strait of Hormuz is a recurring point of contention in peace negotiations with the United States, who continue their blockade in response to mining and filtering imposed by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
“The freedom of navigation is not negotiable”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated upon arriving in Russia on Monday to meet with President Vladimir Putin that “security in the passage of the Strait of Hormuz is an important global issue.” The United States has no intention of lifting their blockade, believing they are in a position of strength to impose negotiations on Iran. Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), emphasized during a press conference, “Freedom of navigation is non-negotiable,” reiterating that “no country has the right to hinder traffic in a strait.”
