Iran Enforces New Maritime Regulations in Hormuz Strait
Iran has announced stringent new maritime regulations for vessels navigating the Hormuz Strait, requiring adherence to designated routes and coordination with authorities. This comes amid ongoing tensions and a warning from Iranian officials regarding potential responses to U.S. blockades. Only ships approved by the Revolutionary Guard will be allowed passage, and commercial vessels must pay a toll. The Hormuz Strait, a vital route for global oil shipments, has reopened temporarily during a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. This marks a significant moment as oil tankers resume movement in this critical waterway, highlighting the geopolitical complexities in the region.
| Apr 18, 2026, 16:33 IST
Iran's Maritime Regulations in the Hormuz Strait
An Iranian official has announced that all vessels wishing to navigate the conflict-ridden Hormuz Strait must strictly adhere to the predetermined routes established by Tehran. This information was reported by Iran's state channel during a live television interview on April 17. Ismail Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, emphasized that these ships must coordinate fully with Iranian authorities. He also warned that if the United States continues its blockade of Iranian ports for an extended period, Tehran will respond decisively. According to the state channel, he stated, “The naval blockade imposed by the U.S. will be considered a violation of the ceasefire, and Iran will take necessary actions in response.
Additionally, a senior Iranian lawmaker indicated that only commercial vessels approved by the Revolutionary Guard would be permitted to pass through this strait. Ibrahim Azizi, head of the parliamentary National Security Commission, posted on social media late Friday, stating that commercial ships must pay a 'necessary toll' before traversing this waterway, following the route designated by Iran last month. He asserted that it is now time to comply with the new maritime regulations for the Hormuz Strait. Prior to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East that began in February, there was no such approval-based system for passage through this strait, which used to facilitate nearly 20% of the world's oil shipments before the war. It has now been reopened only for the remaining duration of the ten-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, as announced earlier this week by Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
A convoy of oil tankers was observed passing through the Hormuz Strait; this marked the first significant movement of ships in this crucial waterway since the onset of hostilities between Iran and the Israel-U.S. coalition. According to marine traffic data, this group included four liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers along with several oil product and chemical tankers, navigating through Iranian waters south of Larak Island, with more tankers following from the Gulf region.