Tehran, Jul 13 (V7N) — Iran has announced that it will not permit ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz until what it describes as the "illegal activities" of the United States in the Persian Gulf come to an end.
The announcement was made in a statement issued on Sunday by Iran's newly established Persian Gulf Strait Authority.
According to the statement, the current security situation created by recent U.S. military activities in the region does not allow for the safe passage of vessels through the strategic waterway.
"It is currently not possible to permit navigation through the Strait of Hormuz due to the recent illegal activities of the U.S. military in the region. Once stability and peace are restored, all pending applications will be reviewed according to established procedures and the necessary permits will be issued," the statement said.
Iran has maintained restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz since the United States and Israel launched military operations against the country on February 28. During the conflict, Iranian forces reportedly attacked several vessels, deployed naval mines and imposed restrictions on maritime traffic through the strategic chokepoint.
Tehran formally established the Persian Gulf Strait Authority in May, assigning it responsibility for regulating and managing maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials say the new body is intended to introduce a permanent framework for managing navigation through the waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most strategically important maritime routes, serving as a key corridor for global oil and liquefied natural gas exports. Any disruption to shipping through the strait is closely watched by international markets and governments.
Source: Al Jazeera
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