Iran Moves to Regulate Strait of Hormuz Amid Rising Regional Tensions

Tehran, March 2026 : Iran’s parliament has initiated steps to approve a new plan aimed at exercising “smart management” over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, signalling a potential shift in how one of the world’s most critical energy corridors is governed.

According to parliamentary spokesperson Abbas Goudarzi, the proposal has been formally placed on the legislative agenda after securing support from more than 250 lawmakers in the 290-member parliament. The plan seeks to strengthen maritime security while introducing a framework to collect tolls from passing vessels in Iran’s local currency, the rial.

Senior lawmaker Alireza Salimi earlier outlined the key objectives of the “double-urgency” proposal. These include ensuring safe navigation in the waterway, levying charges on ships responsible for environmental pollution, collecting fees for maritime guidance services, and creating a regional development fund to channel revenues into infrastructure and economic projects.

The move comes at a time when Iran has tightened its control over the Strait, reportedly restricting passage for vessels linked to the United States, Israel, and their allies. The development underscores the growing strategic importance of the waterway, through which a significant portion of global oil supplies transit.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has sharply criticised several European nations for what he described as selective responses to the ongoing conflict. In a phone conversation with France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, Araghchi accused European countries of focusing primarily on economic consequences while remaining silent on what he termed “brutal attacks” against Iranian civilians.

During the discussion, Araghchi reiterated that Iran would continue what it calls defensive operations, including strikes on US and Israeli military installations in the region. He also warned that any further provocations in or around the Strait of Hormuz, including diplomatic moves at the United Nations, could intensify the conflict.

Barrot, on his part, reaffirmed France’s opposition to attacks on civilian targets and called for renewed diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation and restore stability across West Asia. He also expressed concern over rising tensions in the broader region, including developments in Lebanon.

The latest developments follow a sharp escalation in hostilities after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year, which triggered retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Tehran. As tensions persist, Iran’s proposed regulatory framework for the Strait of Hormuz could have far-reaching implications for global energy markets and regional security dynamics.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)