Iran declares controlled maritime zone

Iran said on May 21 that ships would need authorization to pass through a newly declared controlled maritime zone in the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement came through Iran’s newly created Persian Gulf Strait Authority, according to Democracy Now! and Al Jazeera, which cited Iranian statements. Britain and France, meanwhile, said a separate multinational mission to support civilian shipping in the strait had won political backing from 38 nations, including Germany, though operations would begin only in what they called a “permissive environment.” The parallel moves have put one of the world’s most sensitive shipping lanes back at the center of military and diplomatic calculations. ### What exactly did Iran say ships now have to do? Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority said vessels would not be able to transit the strait without its authorization, according to reports published on May 21. Democracy Now! said Iran described the area as a “controlled maritime zone,” while Al Jazeera reported that the authority published a map marking the zone and said passage would require coordination. Al Jazeera reported that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said 26 vessels had been coordinated through the strait in the previous 24 hours. The same report cited an IRGC statement saying traffic through Hormuz was being carried out “with permission and in coordination with the IRGC Navy.” ### Where is the zone supposed to run? (democracynow.org) Al Jazeera reported on May 20 that the authority said the zone stretches from Kuh-e Mubarak in Iran to south of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates at the eastern entrance, and from the tip of Qeshm Island to Umm al-Quwain at the western entrance. The published boundaries indicate Iran is asserting oversight across both entrances to the strait rather than around a single point. (aljazeera.com) ABC and other outlets separately described the measure as a new transit regime involving screening and approvals. Reuters material surfaced through other publications also described Western objections to any Iranian permit or toll system for passage through the waterway. ### What is Europe actually preparing in response? Britain and France said in a joint statement published by the British government that 38 nations announced political support on May 12 for an “independent and strictly defensive” multinational military mission for the Strait of Hormuz. (aljazeera.com) The statement said the mission would support civilian shipping, reassure commercial operators and conduct mine-clearance operations. (abc.net.au) The same statement listed Germany among the countries backing the effort. It said operations would begin only in a “permissive environment” and would remain subject to national constitutions, parliamentary procedures and other national caveats. ### Is Germany already deploying forces? Germany has not yet publicly begun operations in the strait, but reports on May 22 said Berlin was preparing to join the UK-led effort. (gov.uk) NDTV Profit, citing Reuters, said any direct German military presence would depend on a sustained ceasefire and approval from the German parliament. Bloomberg reported on April 9 that Chancellor Friedrich Merz had told President Donald Trump Germany would back a mission to secure sea lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, but that it would first need an international mandate, ideally from the U.N. Security Council. ### What are U.S. officials saying about Iran’s move? U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran was trying to create a “toll system” in the strait and called the move illegal, according to reports published on May 22. (ndtvprofit.com) NDTV Profit said Rubio warned that no country could be allowed to decide who uses an international shipping route or monetize global navigation. CBS also reported Rubio rejected an Iranian “tolling system.” (bloomberg.com) The British and French statement took the same legal line without naming Iran directly. It said navigation through the strait “must be free” under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea and international law. ### What happens next for shipping through Hormuz? The British government said the multinational mission is in readiness for operations once the environment is permissive, and encouraged further contributions from participating states. (ndtvprofit.com) Germany’s role remains tied to domestic procedures and any mandate it seeks. In the waterway itself, Iran has already begun applying its authorization system, according to the May 20 and May 21 reports. (gov.uk) That leaves shipowners, insurers and governments watching two tracks at once: whether Iran continues enforcing transit approvals, and whether the European-backed mission moves from political support to actual deployment. (democracynow.org)