Key facts
- Iran's parliament is reviewing a bill to ban U.S., Israeli, and "hostile" vessels from the Strait of Hormuz.
- The draft legislation proposes fines of up to 20 percent of a ship's cargo value for violations.
- The bill is currently in the expert review stage before parliamentary debate and potential passage.
- The move occurs amid heightened tensions and renewed fighting between Iran and the U.S. in the region.
- Approximately one-fifth of global energy passes through the Strait of Hormuz in peacetime.
Iranian lawmakers are reviewing a preliminary bill that would ban U.S., Israeli, and other "hostile" vessels from transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports from Fars news agency and Al Jazeera. The draft legislation, currently in the expert review stage, also proposes fines of up to 20 percent of a ship's cargo value for violations.
The move comes amid heightened tensions and renewed fighting between Iran and the U.S. in the region over the past week, which has disrupted hopes for a return to normalcy in the strategically vital waterway. Lawmakers have discussed formalizing Iranian control over the strait, through which approximately one-fifth of global energy passes in peacetime.
An earlier draft, published in May, reportedly aimed to bar vessels flagged by the U.S. or Israel, as well as military or intelligence ships belonging to countries or individuals acting against Iran's regional allies. This draft also stipulated that all vessels would need to obtain permits, disclose cargo, and pay fees.
U.S. President Donald Trump recently stated Washington's intention to charge fees for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, positioning the U.S. as a "guardian" of the waterway. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi welcomed this acknowledgment of fees but indicated Iran would charge a lower, "fair" price as the strait's "forever" guardian.
The Strait of Hormuz has seen increased incidents, with multiple tankers and commercial vessels reportedly hit or warned to turn back. Iran has also hinted at the possibility of shutting down the Bab al-Mandeb strait in the case of major escalation, with assistance from Houthi forces in Yemen.