Iran prepares bill to ban enemy state vessels from entering the Gulf

The Iranian parliament is preparing a draft law that would ban military and commercial vessels from countries considered “enemies” from entering the Gulf without Tehran’s permission.

Ibrahim Azizi, chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said the draft is one of the most important and progressive pieces of legislation since the nationalisation of Iran’s oil industry.

According to the state news agency IRNA, Azizi said the law would prohibit military and commercial vessels belonging to countries deemed “enemies” from transiting the Gulf without Iran’s approval.

He said the draft aims to strengthen Iran’s authority and control over the Strait of Hormuz.

On 9 August, commission spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi said the commission had approved a draft law aimed at ensuring the security of the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf, as well as promoting sustainable development in both areas.

The situation in the region has remained tense since the US-Israel war against Iran began in late February. To date, Tehran and Washington have not reached a final agreement to end the confrontation.

Meanwhile, the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to disrupt global energy supply chains.