Are the missiles gone? Iran moves to enact laws against Israel and the USA
A new bill in Tehran seeks to ban the passage of American and Israeli ships through the Strait of Hormuz and impose heavy fines on violators. The legislation taking shape in the Iranian parliament could ignite a new confrontation.
A committee in the Iranian parliament is examining a bill that would prohibit American, Israeli, and ships belonging to countries defined by Tehran as "hostile" from passing through the Strait of Hormuz. This was reported today by the Iranian news agency Fars, which quoted a member of parliament.
According to the report, the proposal is still in the stages of drafting and professional review. The parliament has invited experts in the fields of law, security, and shipping to submit their recommendations before finalizing the text and forwarding it for approval procedures. It was not stated when the proposal is expected to reach a vote in the parliament plenum.
The draft includes a ban on the passage of vessels linked to the USA and Israel, as well as restrictions on ships from other countries that Iran will define as hostile. A ship that violates the instructions could be fined an amount of up to 20 percent of the value of the cargo it carries. It was not clarified how Iran intends to identify the true ownership of the ships, some of which are registered under the flags of other countries or operated through international companies.
This move fits into Tehran's efforts to codify its control over maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. In recent months, Iranian officials have declared that ships linked to Israel will not be allowed to pass through the strait, and that vessels from hostile countries will be required to receive permission from the Supreme National Security Council. Previous proposals also included collecting payments from foreign ships and imposing restrictions on vessels that Iran claims endanger its security.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most strategic and sensitive shipping routes in the world. Any Iranian attempt to enforce a permanent ban on the passage of American or Israeli ships could exacerbate the confrontation with Washington and Jerusalem, and trigger a response from countries dependent on the route for the transport of oil and gas from the Persian Gulf.
