Iran on Thursday announced the establishment of a new regulated maritime zone in the Strait of Hormuz under its newly launched Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), requiring all vessels to obtain prior coordination and permits before transiting the strategic waterway.
Outlining the management and monitoring boundaries of the strait, the authority in a statement on social media, said the supervision area stretches from Kuh-e ubarak in Iran to south of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates on the eastern side of the strait, and from the end of Qeshm Island in Iran to Umm Al Quwain in the UAE on the western side. The designated boundaries define a controlled management zone for vessel movement through one of the world’s most important oil shipping corridors.
The PGSA said that vessels passing through the designated area would be required to coordinate with the Persian Gulf Waterway Management Authority and obtain transit permits before entering the Strait.
The development comes amid continuing deadlock in US-Iran negotiations, with both sides refusing to soften their positions. Washington has demanded a complete halt to Iran’s nuclear programme, while Tehran has insisted on protecting its energy security interests and maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran launched the PGSA as a new regulatory body tasked with managing and monitoring operations linked to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes for oil and energy shipments. The Supreme National Security Council confirmed the operational launch of the authority.
Under the framework, vessels intending to transit the Strait of Hormuz would receive official instructions via email detailing the rules and procedures for passage.
Ships are required to comply with the directives issued under the new system and secure transit permits before entering the Strait, which has witnessed heightened tensions following the conflict involving US-Israeli coalition forces and Iran in West Asia.
The PGSA described the initiative as a sovereign governance mechanism aimed at improving coordination with commercial shipping and providing real-time operational updates related to maritime transit in the Strait of Hormuz.
