Iran has officially announced the creation of a new body to oversee activities in the Strait of Hormuz, further tightening its control over one of the world’s most important shipping routes.
The country’s Supreme National Security Council made the announcement on Monday through its official X account, introducing the new agency known as the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA). According to the statement, the body will provide “real-time updates” on operations and developments concerning the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Navy also reposted the announcement, signaling the strategic importance of the new authority.
Although Iranian officials have not fully explained the exact responsibilities of the PGSA, reports from Iranian state-linked media earlier this month suggested the body would serve as a system for enforcing Iran’s authority over the Strait of Hormuz. Ships navigating the route were reportedly issued operational guidelines through official PGSA communication channels.
The move comes months after tensions escalated following the conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. Since the outbreak of the war on February 28, Iran has significantly restricted maritime movement through the strait, a situation that has continued despite a fragile ceasefire reached on April 8.
Iran’s increasing control over the waterway has sparked concerns in global markets due to the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz. The passage handles nearly 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports during normal periods, alongside other critical commodities such as fertilisers.
The restrictions have also heightened geopolitical tensions, especially as the United States reportedly intensified naval operations around Iranian ports during the conflict.
Iranian authorities have repeatedly stated that shipping operations in the Strait of Hormuz would not return to previous conditions. Last month, Tehran confirmed it had started generating revenue from tolls imposed on vessels using the route.
Speaking over the weekend, Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the Iranian parliament’s national security commission, said Iran had developed a “professional mechanism” for managing traffic through the strait and hinted that more details would soon be unveiled.
