Iran Says Its Armed Forces Would Be Authority for Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s armed forces would be the authority responsible for the Strait of Hormuz under the country’s proposed law for managing the waterway, a top official said on Monday.

Ebrahim Azizi, head of the national security commission in Iran’s parliament, told state television that the armed forces were already in control of the strait and were seeking to prohibit the passage of “hostile vessels”.

Azizi also said the proposed law states that financial gains from the strait should be paid in the local rial currency.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi blamed Washington for the failure of talks after landing in Russia to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of a whirlwind diplomatic tour.

“The US approaches caused the previous round of negotiations, despite progress, to fail to reach its goals because of the excessive demands,” Araghchi said. “The safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is an important global issue,” he added from Saint Petersburg.

Iran has blockaded Hormuz, cutting off flows of oil, gas and fertilizer and sending prices soaring, raising fears of food insecurity in developing countries. In response, the US has imposed a blockade of Iranian ports in the waterway and beyond. (AFP)