A professional mechanism to regulate maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz along a designated route will soon be made public by Iran, a senior Iranian lawmaker announced on Saturday, 16 May. The disclosure signals Tehran's intent to formalise its tightening grip over one of the world's most critical oil shipping lanes.

What the Mechanism Entails

Ebrahim Azizi, Chairman of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, posted on X that the designated route will remain closed to operators of 'Project Freedom' — the US-authorised initiative to escort trapped civilian ships to safety. 'Only commercial vessels and parties cooperating with Iran will benefit from it,' Azizi wrote, adding that 'necessary fees will be collected for the specialised services provided under this mechanism.'

Background: How the Strait Crisis Escalated

Iran began tightening its control over the Strait of Hormuz on 28 February, barring passage to vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States following joint strikes by the two countries on Iranian territory. In response, the United States imposed a naval blockade on the strait, preventing ships from Iranian ports from transiting the waterway. The US military has also reportedly attacked several Iranian ships and oil tankers in recent days.

What Iran Says About Access

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Friday stated that the strait remains open to all vessels except those belonging to countries engaged in conflict with Iran. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Araghchi said Iran had already facilitated passage for several Indian ships and reiterated that safe transit is both Tehran's policy and interest. 'On the Strait of Hormuz, this is also our wish that it will be fully reopened. As far as we are concerned, the Strait of Hormuz is open, and all vessels can pass, except the vessels of those countries that are fighting with us,' Araghchi stated.

Project Freedom and US Involvement

Earlier in May, US President Donald Trump authorised 'Project Freedom' to guide trapped civilian ships through the strait to safety amid weeks of escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf. The new Iranian mechanism, if implemented, would effectively exclude such vessels from the designated safe corridor — setting up a direct institutional standoff between Tehran and Washington over control of the waterway.

What This Means for Global Shipping

The Strait of Hormuz is the transit point for roughly 20% of global oil trade, making any restriction on passage a matter of international economic concern. Iran's move to formalise a fee-based, access-controlled corridor — while simultaneously asserting the strait is 'open' — presents a contradictory posture that analysts say could complicate neutral nations' shipping decisions. The situation remains fluid, with the formal mechanism yet to be unveiled.