An Iranian official has announced that all vessels intending to transit the strategic Strait of Hormuz must strictly follow routes determined by Tehran. This directive was conveyed during a televised interview on Friday, April 17, by Esmaeil Baghaei, the spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry. He stressed the necessity for ships to coordinate fully with Iranian authorities prior to their passage.

Baghaei also commented on the impact of a prolonged United States blockade on Iranian ports, stating that such actions would elicit a definitive reciprocal response from Tehran. He characterised the blockade as a breach of the current ceasefire agreement and indicated that Iran would take appropriate measures in response.

In a related assertion, a senior Iranian lawmaker declared that only commercial vessels sanctioned by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are permitted to navigate through the strait. Ebrahim Azizi, who leads the National Security Commission in Iran’s parliament, mentioned on social media that merchant vessels would be required to pay specified tolls prior to using the routing established in the previous month.

Maritime Regime and Recent Developments

Azizi highlighted that this new approval-based mechanism for passing through the strait was introduced following the outbreak of the current conflict in the Middle East in February. Before this situation, such regulations did not exist. The Strait of Hormuz is critical, as it previously facilitated around 20 per cent of global oil shipments before the onset of hostilities.

The waterway was reported to be reopened for the duration of a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, as communicated by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi earlier in the week. This reopening marks a significant decision amidst ongoing tensions in the region.

Furthermore, Iran’s Defence Minister asserted that military vessels and those associated with hostile entities would not be granted transit rights through the strait, according to reports from Iranian news agencies.

Movement of Ships and International Reactions

On Saturday, a convoy of oil tankers was observed traversing the Strait of Hormuz, representing the first significant movement of vessels in the area since the conflict erupted involving Iran and a coalition that includes Israel and the United States. The convoy consisted of four liquefied petroleum gas carriers, with other oil product and chemical tankers also reported to be transiting south of Larak Island, as per MarineTraffic data.

In advance of this shipping movement, U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the situation, mentioning “some pretty good news” concerning Iran. He offered no specifics but stated, “It seems to be going very well in the Middle East with Iran.” Trump further indicated that the temporary ceasefire might not be extended unless a deal could be reached by Wednesday, expressing optimism about ongoing negotiations.

When asked about Iran’s toll proposals on the Strait of Hormuz, Trump dismissed the idea, responding negatively to the prospect of tolls being imposed. He insisted that restrictions and tolls could not coincide, reinforcing his administration’s position regarding the strait’s governance under U.S. interests.

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