Iranian Parliamentary Committee Approves Half of 'Hormuz Security and Development Project' Articles
The Councils and Internal Affairs Committee of the Iranian Parliament has approved seven of the fourteen articles within the "Strategic Action Plan for Securing the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Gulf." Valiollah Bayati, the committee's spokesperson, announced on Friday that the project was initially referred to the sub-committee for discussion. Following members' opinions and preliminary approval of general provisions, committee members delved into details, ratifying seven articles. The remaining articles are scheduled for discussion and approval in subsequent meetings next week. A prominent approved provision bans the passage of equipment and gear belonging to the United States, Israel, and countries classified by Iran as "hostile" through the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian official justified this, stating these nations exploited the strait for hostile acts against Iran and launched "unjust aggressions and attacks" against the Iranian populace. The project has also been forwarded to the Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, the main committee, which approved its general framework and is currently reviewing specifics. Additionally, it was referred to the Urban Development Committee as a sub-committee for further study. In a related development, Ibrahim Zulfaghari, spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Command, recently challenged former US President Donald Trump's claims of US control over the Strait of Hormuz, dismissing them as "lies and fabrications" and reiterating Iran's continued control. He clarified that American assertions about normal ship passage are "fabricated stories," stressing that no commercial or oil tanker can safely transit without coordination, explicit permission, and monitoring by Iranian armed forces. Previously, Hussein Taeb, the new head of the Basij forces, had affirmed that "the Strait of Hormuz falls under the administration and control of the Islamic Republic of Iran." While Tehran has announced plans to impose transit fees on some vessels, the United States rejects these claims, maintaining that the Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway.
