Iran’s top security authority said on Monday it has established a new body to oversee operations in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway Tehran has effectively restricted and is now seeking to impose charges on vessels passing through.

In a post on its official X account, the Supreme National Security Council announced the creation of the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, stating it would provide “real-time updates on the #Hormuz_Strait operations and latest developments.”

The same announcement was also shared by the account of the Revolutionary Guards navy.

While the exact mandate of the new body was not immediately clarified, Iran’s English-language broadcaster Press TV had earlier described it as a “system to exercise sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz,” adding that ships transiting the waterway were being issued “regulations” via the email address [email protected].

Strait of Hormuz has seen heavily restricted maritime traffic since the outbreak of conflict between Iran and the United States and Israel on February 28.

A fragile ceasefire has reportedly been in place since April 8.

The situation has heightened tensions in global energy markets, with Tehran leveraging its position over one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.

In response, the United States has imposed its own naval blockade on Iranian ports.

Under normal conditions, the strait handles about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, along with other essential commodities such as fertiliser.

Since the start of the conflict, Iranian officials have repeatedly insisted that maritime movement through the waterway would “not return to its pre-war status,” and last month Tehran claimed it had begun receiving revenue from tolls on vessels using the passage.

On Saturday, Ebrahim Azizi, who heads the Iranian parliament’s national security commission, said Iran “has prepared a professional mechanism to manage traffic” through the strait, adding that it will be “unveiled soon.”