Iran's Supreme National Security Council has published new regulations requiring all commercial vessels seeking to transit the Strait of Hormuz to obtain prior clearance from a newly-designated 'Persian Strait Authority' (PGSA.ir), according to Iranian state announcements carried by i24NEWS. The procedures, citing Article 5 of the Islamabad MOU, state that during a 60-day initial period no fees will be charged and Iran will cover administrative costs. Vessels will be assigned specific routes and schedules by the authority.
The Supreme National Security Council of Iran published new regulatory procedures governing commercial shipping transit through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday evening. The announcement, reported by i24NEWS, designates a 'Persian Strait Authority' (PGSA.ir) that will manage all passage requests. According to the statement, vessels must submit transit applications through the authority in accordance with Article 5 of the Islamabad MOU. For the first 60 days, no transit fees will be collected, and Iran will bear the costs. The authority was instructed to process applications swiftly. Additionally, vessels will be required to follow assigned routes and schedules for safety reasons.
As The Zioneer reported earlier on Thursday (22:13 Jerusalem), Iran initially published the regulatory framework for Hormuz transit with a 60-day fee waiver. The current announcements add the official naming of the 'Persian Strait Authority' and detailed operational instructions, including the web portal PGSA.ir for applications. This follows a series of escalating steps by Tehran in recent weeks: from the closure of the strait by a newly-formed Iranian authority (June 11), to the imposition of tolls of up to $2 million per vessel (June 7), and through political statements claiming joint control with Oman.
Other matters, including demining operations, are to be addressed according to the directives of Article 5 of the Islamabad agreement. The new procedures formalize Iran's administrative control over the world's most critical maritime chokepoint, though the Israeli Home Front Command has no involvement in this announcement.
4 developments
- DevelopingIran Begins Charging Ships for Strait of Hormuz Transit — Up to $2 Million Per Vessel
- DevelopingIranian Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf details Strait of Hormuz toll arrangement in rare interview
- StrongIranian Foreign Ministry spokesman: vessels to pay 'navigation, insurance, environmental' fees in Hormuz
- StrongIran: Strait of Hormuz management is solely Iran and Oman's responsibility, toll collection continues
Source and signal
- Internal intake