Tehran, April 19: Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) has announced that it will maintain control and oversight over vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz until the war is completely over and lasting peace is established in the region.
According to Iranian media, this statement comes as Iran’s main military command, the Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters, declared on Saturday that strict control over the strait is being reinstated due to the ongoing U.S. naval blockade.
As reported by the Xinhua news agency, the SNSC stated that it will request information from ships traversing the strait, grant them permission to enter and exit, impose fees for security and environmental services, and regulate the movement of vessels according to its rules and wartime arrangements.
The council emphasized, “As long as the enemy continues to obstruct the passage of vessels through this strait and resorts to methods like naval blockades, which would violate the current two-week ceasefire, the country will not allow the conditional and limited reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.”
The SNSC also noted that a significant amount of goods destined for U.S. bases in West Asia passes through this strait, posing a threat to Iran and regional security.
Additionally, Iran reported receiving new proposals from the U.S. during the recent visit of its army chief, Asim Munir, through Pakistan, and Iran is currently considering these offers.
Iranian negotiators have made it clear that they will not compromise and will vigorously defend the country’s interests.
Iran began to tighten its grip on the strait on February 28, following coordinated attacks by Israel and the U.S. against Iran. Recently, the U.S. also imposed a blockade targeting vessels traveling to and from Iran, as peace talks in Islamabad failed.
However, on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi stated that the Strait of Hormuz would remain fully open to commercial vessels during the two-week ceasefire that began on April 8.
Yet, on Saturday, Iran’s military command reiterated that strict control over the strait is being reinstated due to the ongoing U.S. blockade.
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