Tehran: Iran is set to implement a new regulatory framework for maritime traffic in the critical Strait of Hormuz, according to Ebrahim Azizi, the Chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee. Announcing the initiative, Azizi stated that the system is designed to safeguard Iranian sovereignty while securing international commercial trade. However, the benefits of this newly developed network will be exclusively extended to merchant vessels and nations that actively cooperate with Tehran. Furthermore, Iran plans to levy taxes on the specialized services provided under this new maritime structure.
Simultaneously, Mohammad Mokhber, a senior advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, issued a stern warning to neighbouring Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Mokhber criticized these Gulf nations for permitting adversaries to utilize their territories against Iran, warning that Tehran’s long-standing patience is reaching its limit. This escalating rhetoric comes amidst severe devastation in the region, with recent joint military strikes by the United States and Israel on the Iranian capital of Tehran resulting in 1,260 fatalities and widespread infrastructural damage, including the destruction of 51,000 homes and over 10,000 vehicles.
Amidst these developments, the broader West Asian geopolitical landscape remains highly volatile. The United States has successfully mediated a 45-day extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, with military delegates scheduled to convene on May 29, though Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling continue to displace civilians in southern Lebanon. On the diplomatic front, US President Donald Trump indicated a shift in stance, signaling that he would accept a 20-year suspension of Iran’s nuclear programme rather than insisting on a permanent halt, while simultaneously noting his dwindling patience with Tehran. Meanwhile, at the United Nations, China formally opposed a US and Bahrain-backed resolution concerning the Strait of Hormuz, characterizing the proposal as poorly timed and fundamentally flawed in its content.
