Iranian Official: Hormuz Strait Management Plan Strategic Initiative Akin to Oil Nationalization

Ibrahim Azizi, head of the National Security Committee in the Iranian Parliament, affirmed that his country's plan for managing the Strait of Hormuz is a permanent and firm initiative, akin to the decision of oil nationalization. This statement was made on Saturday to the Iranian Young Journalists Association News Agency, within the context of discussions about the strategic strait. Azizi clarified that the bill prepared in the Iranian Parliament regarding transit arrangements is a comprehensive project, aiming to ensure the security and development of the Persian Gulf and the strait. He emphasized that this initiative's importance mirrors that of oil nationalization. He added that Iran responds to threats in accordance with its national interests and pursues rational policies in the region. This comes as Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Friday that his country is making intensive efforts to mediate ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran, noting that the chances of reaching a peace agreement have become closer than ever before. Earlier, President Donald Trump had announced on Thursday evening that his country had ended the war on Iran, following Tehran's agreement not to possess nuclear weapons. In a related context, Mohsen Zanganeh, a member of the Planning and Budget Committee in the Iranian Parliament, stated on June 7 that Tehran charges ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz fees ranging from $1.5 to $2 million. Zanganeh indicated that these payments are made in cash, via cryptocurrencies, or through the supply of goods whose value is deducted from the transit fees.