Iran's Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Commission has approved provisions proposing new penalties for vessels that violate Iranian transit regulations in the Strait of Hormuz. The commission approved Articles 13, 14 and 15 of the proposed "Strategic Action to Ensure Security and Development of the Strait of Hormuz" bill on Tuesday. This move comes amid high tensions surrounding the strategically important waterway due to the ongoing conflict with the United States.
The proposed legislation establishes penalties for vessels that fail to comply with Iranian transit regulations in the Strait of Hormuz. These penalties include the possible confiscation of part of a vessel's cargo and temporary detention of the ship. Under Article 13, authorities would be permitted to confiscate 20 per cent of the violating vessel's cargo or recover its equivalent financial value. The offending vessel could also be temporarily impounded by Iranian maritime forces until applicable penalties and fines have been paid.
The bill also envisages specialised judicial mechanisms for enforcing the proposed regulations. The Judiciary would be required to establish specialised court branches staffed by judges and experts in maritime law and the international law of the sea. This is according to commission spokesperson Hassan Ghashghavi. Article 14 of the proposed legislation would impose domestic accountability on individuals and legal entities whose actions or negligence lead to the failure, delay or incomplete implementation of the law.
Such violations under Article 14 would carry Grade 5 punishments under Article 19 of the Islamic Penal Code. A supplementary provision under Article 14 would also assert Iran's legal sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. The proposed framework would also place oversight of implementation with Iran's General Staff of the Armed Forces. Under Article 15, the military high command would be required to submit comprehensive reports on implementation to the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission every three months.
The legislation has not yet become law and must first be finalised by the commission before being sent to the full Parliament for a vote. It would then be considered by the Constitutional Council. This parliamentary move comes as the Strait of Hormuz has become a prominent issue in the confrontation between Iran and the United States due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
The tensions were reflected in a recent address by US President Donald Trump at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. Trump spoke about US naval operations to escort oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and said the flow of oil through the waterway had increased during the conflict. He also warned that he could take military action against Iran if a peace deal was not reached.
The proposed Iranian legislation places particular emphasis on regulating vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz and establishing penalties for violations. The Iranian diplomats reportedly walked out of the UN General Assembly hall as Trump began discussing US military operations against Tehran. Against this backdrop, Iran continues to assert its stance on the Strait of Hormuz.
Key points
- The Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission has approved new penalties for vessels violating transit regulations in the Strait of Hormuz.
