The Islamic regime officially launched the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, a body it will use to claim authority over the Strait of Hormuz, on Monday.
Official regime X/Twitter accounts shared the new social media page for the body, claiming it would provide “real-time updates on the #Hormuz_Strait operations and latest developments.”
Ebrahim Azizi, the chairman of Iran’s Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said on Saturday that the body would offer “specialized services” in exchange for a fee.
Ships seeking to transit the route will be required to disclose ownership, insurance, crew manifests, and cargo before being granted a permit, according to the Israeli maritime intelligence and risk management company Windward. All Israeli-linked vessels are banned, and US ships face severe restrictions under the body’s rules.
There is also a ban on “enemy” military equipment, Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref claimed, according to Al Jazeera.
“We had given up our right of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and we previously allowed the passage of military equipment that was intended to be used against us through the Strait of Hormuz. We will not permit that again,” he said.
Ships reportedly pay USD 2m. each as Tehran starts charging Strait of Hormuz tolls
Some vessels are reported to have already paid $2 million for their transit.
J.P. Morgan warned that Iran could achieve $70-90 billion in annual revenue if allowed to charge a toll in the Strait of Hormuz in its 16th annual Eye on the Market Energy Paper: Fighting Words report published last month.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) warned in early May that both American and foreign persons who make the payment may face sanctions.
OFAC noted that the requested payments may come in the form of “fiat currency, digital assets, offsets, informal swaps, or other in-kind payments, such as nominally charitable donations made to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, Bonyad Mostazafan, or Iranian embassy accounts.”