A senior Iranian lawmaker has confirmed that a parliamentary bill establishing the legal regime of the Strait of Hormuz is ready and will be passed as a "deterrent law" once the legislature resumes operations, amid reported clashes between Iranian and US naval forces in and around the strategic waterway. The announcement, made in Tehran on 9 May, signals a sharp escalation in Iran's posture over one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints.

What the Bill Proposes

Ebrahim Azizi, Chairman of the Iranian parliament's national security and foreign policy committee, made the remarks on the sidelines of a commemoration ceremony in Tehran. He confirmed the bill has been discussed in a series of meetings with relevant authorities, including the Foreign Ministry and Iran's Ports and Maritime Organisation.

The proposed legislation, if passed, would block vessels tied to Israel and the United States from transiting the Strait of Hormuz and impose tolls on other ships deemed non-hostile. The bill is framed as a sovereign deterrent rather than an act of aggression, according to the lawmakers who have championed it.

Clashes in the Strait of Hormuz

Ali Khezrian, a member of the Iranian parliament's national security and foreign policy committee, addressed the reported clashes between Iran and the United States in and around the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday and Friday in an interview with state-run IRIB TV.

"No one will be able to take military action against Iranian vessels any longer without facing a response," Khezrian said, adding that the Iranian military reportedly responded on Thursday night by targeting US destroyers after Iranian ships were allegedly harassed by the US Navy and US Central Command during a ceasefire period.

Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported "sporadic clashes" between Iranian armed forces and US vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday. These claims have not been independently verified.

Iran's Position on Regional Security

Azizi stressed that Iran has consistently sought to ensure safe and free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that US military presence and Israel's "adventurism" are the primary drivers of insecurity and instability in the Gulf and the strait. Khezrian added that Iran will henceforth safeguard its sovereignty over both territorial and extraterritorial waters to protect its ships.

This comes amid heightened regional tensions, with the Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly 20% of global oil trade passes — increasingly becoming a flashpoint between Tehran, Washington, and Tel Aviv. Notably, this is not the first time Iran has threatened to restrict passage through the strait; similar warnings were issued during periods of maximum US sanctions pressure between 2018 and 2020.

What Happens Next

The bill's passage remains contingent on the Iranian parliament resuming full operations. Should it be enacted, it would represent one of the most consequential unilateral assertions of maritime jurisdiction in the region in decades, with significant implications for global energy markets and US naval operations in the Persian Gulf. International observers and energy markets will be watching closely for any formal vote date or further naval incidents.