Tehran: Iran will give priority to ships that agree to pay fees to cross the strategic zone Strait of Hormuza senior Iranian official told CNN on Saturday, amid new restrictions imposed by Tehran on maritime traffic using the vital shipping lane, CNN reported.
“Given the limitation on the number of ships that will be allowed to pass, Iran has decided to prioritize ships that respond more quickly to the new Strait of Hormuz protocols and pay the costs of security and safety services,” the official said, according to CNN.
“Ships that do not pay the fees will have their passage postponed,” the official added, according to CNN.
The move comes after Iran reimposed restrictions on the movement of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, citing what it described as “repeated breaches of trust” by the United States in implementing a ceasefire agreement between the two sides, as CNN reported.
According to CNN, the senior official said the prioritization measure was part of Iran’s efforts to manage maritime traffic “in light of the new order governing this strait.”
Iran announced on Saturday that the strategic Strait of Hormuz had returned to its “previous state” of strict military control, as it was before the ceasefire agreement with Israel and Lebanon, citing violations by the United States as part of its continued blockade of Iranian ports, despite Tehran’s earlier announcement of the reopening of the waterway.
According to Iranian state media, the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRIB), citing the spokesperson of the Iranian Central Headquarters of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), Tehran had previously agreed, in good faith, to allow limited and managed passage of oil tankers and commercial vessels through the strategic strait following negotiations.
However, the spokesperson said the United States has repeatedly violated its commitments and engaged in “piracy and banditry” under the pretext of imposing a blockade on the Islamic Republic’s ports.
“Following previous negotiating agreements, the Islamic Republic of Iran agreed in good faith to allow a limited number of tankers and commercial vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in a controlled manner. Unfortunately, the Americans, with their repeated history of breaking their promises, continue to engage in piracy and banditry under the cover of a so-called blockade,” the statement said, cited by IRIB.
The spokesperson further said that control over the strait has now been strengthened, with the waterway placed under the “strict management and control” of the Iranian armed forces.
“For this reason, the control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state, and this strategic strait is under the strict management and control of the armed forces,” the statement added.
The statement further said that the current situation would persist unless Washington guaranteed what Iran described as “complete freedom of movement” for Iranian ships.
