Iran establishes new authority to manage Strait of Hormuz

Iran announced on Monday the establishment of a new authority tasked with overseeing the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions with the United States over the strategic waterway continue to escalate.

New body to provide operational updates

The Supreme National Security Council said on X that the new authority will provide “immediate updates regarding Strait of Hormuz operations and the latest developments.” No further details were released regarding the body’s structure, powers, or responsibilities. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, linking the Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and international markets. Disruptions in the area have fueled global concerns over oil, fuel, and gas supplies since the start of the Iran war.

Fees for specialized services

On Saturday, Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said Iran has drawn up a mechanism to regulate maritime traffic through a designated route in Hormuz and will charge fees “for the specialized services” provided. “In this process, only commercial vessels and parties cooperating with Iran will benefit from it,” he wrote on X. The US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, triggering Iranian retaliation and the closure of the strait. A Pakistan-brokered ceasefire took effect on April 8 but failed to produce a lasting agreement. Since April 13, the US has enforced a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic. Türkiye continues to call for freedom of navigation and de-escalation, warning that unilateral control measures over international waterways threaten global energy security.