Iran Rejects Foreign Interference in Strait of Hormuz Traffic Control

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, announced that Iran has implemented new regulations governing maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and will not accept any foreign interference in this matter. Speaking to reporters, Gharibabadi stated, "In wartime conditions, Iran has established new regulations for controlling maritime traffic and will not permit any country to interfere."

The new measures come in response to what Iran describes as unprovoked aggression by the United States and Israel between February 28 and April 7. In retaliation, Iran shut down the strategic waterway to enemies and their allies. The situation escalated further when US President Donald Trump announced on April 13 the continuation of an illegal naval blockade of Iranian vessels and ports, violating a ceasefire he had unilaterally declared earlier that month.

To manage the heightened tensions, Iran established the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), a new institutional mechanism to regulate and oversee vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Gharibabadi emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz has two littoral states: Iran and Oman. Both countries have sovereign rights over their territorial waters. He noted that Iran and Oman are currently negotiating a new framework for maritime transit through the waterway. "Any arrangement must be coordinated with Oman. Our consultations have yielded positive progress, and Oman also recognizes its sovereign rights concerning the waterway," he said.

Gharibabadi also addressed recent threats by the United States against Oman, warning of military aggression and sanctions if Oman participates in regulating traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. He condemned these threats as violations of international law. "By threatening Oman, the United States has violated international law. We have urged Oman not to yield to such threats and to exercise its sovereignty during peacetime," he concluded.

According to Mehr News Agency, the remarks underscore Iran's firm stance on maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz and its commitment to coordinating with Oman on maritime governance.