Iran to Launch New Maritime Traffic Management System in Strait of Hormuz
TEHRAN: Iran has revealed its intentions to create a new system that will control maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for global energy supplies.
Ebrahim Azizi, a spokesperson for the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, announced that this new traffic management system will guide vessels along specific routes. The official details are expected to be released soon. Azizi emphasized that this new framework aims to ensure national sovereignty while also promoting secure international trade.
The system will primarily apply to commercial vessels and those that work in partnership with Iran. Participation in this mechanism will be necessary to access the waterway safely. Azizi also mentioned that fees would be charged for special services offered under the system, indicating a move towards a fee-based approach for navigating the strait. He added that vessels linked to what he termed the “freedom project” would not be permitted to use the route, although he did not elaborate on this specific project.
In a recent post on X, Azizi reiterated that the purpose of the system is to streamline traffic along a specific maritime corridor, which will be publicly detailed once it is fully developed.
Additionally, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi noted that Tehran is in discussions with Oman to create a framework for managing the Strait of Hormuz, as both countries border this critical passage. Araqchi argued that since the strait falls within the territorial waters of both Iran and Oman, its management should be established through mutual agreement. So far, Oman has not publicly commented on these discussions.
The United States has previously voiced opposition to Iranian control over the strait and has dismissed the idea of Iran charging transit fees for vessels traveling through this key waterway. The Strait of Hormuz is crucial for global energy, with about 20% of the world’s oil and gas shipments passing through it. It also serves as an important route for fertilizers critical to global agriculture.
Tensions in the region have occasionally escalated, particularly following recent military actions. For instance, after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian territory in late February, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps declared the Strait of Hormuz closed.
