To Trump Demanding Hormuz Open, Iran Says "Right of Passage Is an Inalienable Absolute Right"

Ebrahim Azizi, Chairman of Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee
Remarks Made in Interview with BBC
Announces Enforcement of Law on Strait of Hormuz Transit Fees

On April 19 (local time), Iran declared that control over the Strait of Hormuz is an "absolute right" that is not subject to negotiation and announced the impending implementation of a legal basis to collect transit fees from ships passing through the strait.

The Strait of Hormuz marked on the map. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News Agency

Ebrahim Azizi, Chairman of Iran's Parliamentary Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy, stated in an interview with the BBC broadcast released on the same day, "The right of passage through Hormuz is an inalienable right," adding, "Iran will decide whether or not to permit ships to pass through." He said that this authority would be backed by law, noting, "A bill based on national security and maritime safety has been submitted to parliament, and the military will enforce it." Last month, the Iranian parliament passed the related legislation.

Previously, according to foreign media reports, Iran had been collecting illegal transit fees while asserting its control rights before the United States began its maritime blockade against Iran on April 13. It has been reported that Iran has allowed certain vessels, including those from China and India, to pass through in exchange for a transit fee of approximately USD 2 million based on the Chinese yuan. The fact that vessels owned by U.S. allies such as France and Japan have also passed through the strait has reinforced these observations.

It is observed that Iran considers the Strait of Hormuz not only as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the United States but also as a long-term deterrence measure targeting the U.S. Mohammad Eslami, a researcher at the University of Tehran, stated, "Iran's top priority is to restore its deterrence, and the Strait of Hormuz is one of Iran's main strategic leverages." He added, "Tehran (the Iranian government) is willing to discuss how other countries can benefit from Iran's new strait regime, but control is fundamental."

However, opposition from neighboring Gulf countries is growing. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has defined Iran's control over the strait as "hostile piracy" and warned that it could undermine international maritime order. Foreign ministers from all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states, including the UAE and Bahrain—which have been directly exposed to Iranian drone strikes—have issued statements condemning Iran's actions as "treacherous attacks."

In response, Chairman Azizi criticized pro-U.S. countries, stating, "The United States is the world's biggest pirate," and described those who have handed over the region to the U.S. as "the powers that have ceded the region to America." He also commented on U.S. President Donald Trump's demand to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, stating, "I do not expect much from someone who distorts the truth," and added, "We are merely defending our rights against U.S. threats."

Regarding the current domestic internet shutdown, Chairman Azizi said, "The restrictions will be lifted when security is ensured and cannot be exploited by adversaries." He did not specify when the shutdown would be lifted. Previously, Iran had completely shut down the internet on February 28, immediately after the outbreak of conflict. According to the nonprofit internet monitoring group NetBlocks, April 19 marked the 51st day of the shutdown, and the total shutdown time has exceeded 1,200 hours.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.