Amid escalating tensions with the United States and continuing instability in the Middle East, Iran has moved beyond merely restricting access to the Strait of Hormuz and has now begun establishing a formal system to regulate and manage maritime traffic through the strategically critical waterway. According to reports, Tehran has introduced new procedures requiring ships to seek approval before entering or transiting through the strait, marking a significant escalation in its control over one of the world’s most important shipping corridors.
As part of this effort, Iran has reportedly created a new administrative body called the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, or PGSA, to oversee vessel movement through the Strait of Hormuz. The authority has introduced a mandatory document known as the “Vessel Information Declaration,” which commercial ships are now expected to complete before attempting passage through the waterway.
According to reports cited by CNN, the declaration form requires vessels to provide extensive details, including the ship’s identity, ownership structure, cargo information and the nationalities of crew members onboard. Iranian authorities have reportedly instructed shipping operators to submit this information in advance before entering the strait.
The document also reportedly contains a warning stating that all submitted information must be complete and accurate, adding that any incorrect or incomplete information would become the sole responsibility of the applicant and that any resulting consequences would be borne accordingly. While Iran had allegedly been requesting similar details informally from some vessels in recent months, the new system appears designed to formalise and institutionalise the process.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically vital maritime routes, carrying roughly one-fifth of global oil and natural gas supplies. Before the latest conflict erupted on February 28, commercial shipping vessels from various countries generally passed through the corridor without major restrictions. However, since the escalation of hostilities, Iran has repeatedly warned that vessels lacking approval from Iranian forces risk being intercepted or targeted.
Several ships, including vessels linked to India and other countries, have reportedly already faced attacks or security incidents in and around the region. As a result, many shipping companies and operators have begun avoiding the route entirely or reducing transit activity through the strait. Maritime analysts say this sharp decline in shipping traffic has contributed to rising fuel prices and growing pressure on global energy markets in recent weeks.
Iran has also reportedly declared that ships connected to the United States or Israel would not be permitted to transit through the strait, while vessels from other nations would require prior approval from Iranian authorities. Reports suggest that countries including India, Pakistan and China have already held discussions with Tehran in an attempt to secure safe passage arrangements for some of their commercial vessels.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, has additionally been using emergency maritime radio signals to communicate warnings to vessels in the region, reportedly informing ships that Iranian forces now control movement through the waterway.
Iran first imposed restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz following joint US-Israeli military strikes connected to the broader regional conflict. In response to Iran’s tightening grip over the shipping corridor and the collapse of ceasefire negotiations, US President Donald Trump later announced what was described as a counter-blockade strategy aimed at challenging Iranian control in the region.
Since then, both Washington and Tehran have repeatedly accused each other of escalating maritime tensions. The United States has publicly claimed that several commercial vessels successfully transited through the strait despite Iranian threats, while Iran has disputed those claims and reportedly even fired upon some ships attempting passage.
Iranian leadership has framed control over the Strait of Hormuz as part of a much broader geopolitical strategy. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has reportedly described the policy as contributing to the creation of a “new regional and global order under the strategy of a strong Iran.” Statements attributed to him also argued that foreign powers operating far from their own territories had no legitimate place in the region.
The Trump administration has strongly opposed Iran’s attempts to regulate or potentially charge commercial ships for transit through the strait, arguing that such measures would violate international maritime law and threaten freedom of navigation. Trump previously warned Iran against imposing fees or asserting unilateral control over passage through the waterway.
At the same time, diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran continue quietly in the background. According to reports, both countries are now exploring the possibility of a limited short-term truce focused primarily on reducing immediate conflict rather than resolving all long-standing disputes.
Under proposals reportedly being discussed through mediators, the two sides could enter a 30-day negotiation period aimed at seeking a broader agreement while temporarily reducing hostilities. Pakistani officials involved in mediation efforts have expressed cautious optimism, although major disagreements surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions and regional military influence remain unresolved.
Iran’s latest move to formalise oversight of the Strait of Hormuz has therefore added another layer of complexity to an already volatile regional confrontation, raising major questions about international shipping security, energy supplies and the future balance of power in one of the world’s most strategically sensitive waterways.
