Iran has announced tougher measures for commercial vessels that pass through the Strait of Hormuz without following rules set under a proposed new law.

Hassan Qashqavi, spokesperson for Iran’s parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said the committee approved provisions that would impose a penalty equal to 20% of a vessel’s cargo or its value. Violating vessels could also be temporarily detained until the penalty is paid.

The provisions are part of a proposed framework aimed at regulating shipping through the strategic waterway. The legislation would also establish specialised judicial branches involving maritime and international-law experts to handle cases arising from the law.

Hormuz traffic remains sharply reduced

The announcement comes as commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains far below levels recorded before the current regional conflict.

Reuters reported that only two commodity vessels crossed the waterway on September 21, compared with a pre-conflict average of about 125 large commercial vessels per day.

The Strait of Hormuz is a major route for global oil and gas shipments, making any restrictions on vessel movement significant for international energy and shipping markets. Reuters has reported that traffic through the waterway has remained heavily disrupted amid continuing regional tensions.

Iran’s latest proposed measures therefore add another layer of regulation for ships seeking to use the strategically important maritime route.