Iran announces new body to oversee Strait of Hormuz operations
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council on Monday announced the creation of a new authority tasked with overseeing operations in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has effectively restricted movement in the strategic waterway, where it has indicated plans to impose transit fees on shipping. In a statement shared on its official X account, the top security body said the newly formed “Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA)” would issue real-time updates on developments and operational matters related to the Hormuz passage. The same announcement was also reposted by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) account. The exact mandate of the new body was not immediately clarified. However, Iranian media outlet Press TV had earlier reported that the initiative was intended to assert greater control over the strait, describing it as a mechanism to exercise sovereignty. According to that report, vessels passing through the waterway were being issued regulatory notices via an official email address linked to the authority. Since the outbreak of conflict involving the United States and Israel on February 28, Iran has significantly tightened restrictions on maritime traffic through the vital route. A ceasefire has been in effect since April 8, but access to the strait has not fully returned to normal conditions. The tightening of control over the passage has contributed to volatility in global energy markets, given that the Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for international trade. The US, meanwhile, has also increased naval pressure in the region, including restricting Iranian port activity. In normal conditions, nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the strait, along with other essential commodities such as fertilisers. Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that shipping through the waterway will not revert to its pre-conflict status. Last month, authorities also claimed that initial revenue had been collected from newly introduce