Iran to Require Ships to File Information Before Entering Hormuz

Iran is preparing to pass a law requiring ships to submit detailed information and pay fees before transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) guarantees transit passage through critical waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz, which includes overlapping Iranian and Omani territorial waters.

The move would formalize a system already reported by shipowners, who say tankers have been asked—through intermediaries—for cargo and crew lists, and in some cases, payment.

Some interference with navigation signals in the area has reportedly eased, potentially improving maritime safety.

However, the proposed policy raises concerns under international law.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) guarantees transit passage through critical waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz, which includes overlapping Iranian and Omani territorial waters.

Neither Iran nor the United States has formally ratified UNCLOS.

Control over the waterway remains one of Tehran’s conditions in its negotiations with Washington, according to reports from Bloomberg, the Associated Press (AP), Reuters, and BBC News.