On August 19 (Tehéran time), according to Xinhua news agency, a senior Iranian MP said that the country's parliament is considering a draft plan to ensure security in the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking on Iranian State Television (IRIB), Mr. Ebrahim Rezaei, a member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Iranian Parliament, said that the main contents of the draft have been approved by the committee.
According to Mr. Rezaei, ships identified as hostile or involved in espionage activities that threaten Iran's national security will not be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The draft also stipulates that Israeli military ships and civilian ships will be prohibited from passing through the strait. The implementation of these regulations is expected to be supervised by the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff.
In addition to controlling ships, the plan also proposes to collect fees for vehicles passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Ships violating regulations may also be subject to penalties.
If a government anywhere in the world harms the interests or people of Iran, we will respond to that government in the Strait of Hormuz," Mr. Rezaei said.
According to Iranian parliamentarians, the draft allows Tehran to apply measures such as confiscation of goods and increasing taxes on governments with hostile stances towards Iran.
Mr. Rezaei said that the Strait of Hormuz has become a national security issue for Iran after attacks by the US and Israel against this country. According to him, Tehran needs to maintain control of the waterway route to prevent military threats.
The Strait of Hormuz is located between Iran and Oman, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arab Sea. This is an important shipping route for transporting oil and gas from the Middle East to the international market.
The National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Iranian Parliament approved the main contents of the draft earlier this month, according to the official Iranian news agency (IRNA).
The draft is still in the process of being considered by the Iranian Parliament. The information released is only the proposed contents in the plan, not yet official regulations that have taken effect.
