Ebrahim Azizi, a former IRGC commander and head of parliament’s Committee for National Security and Foreign Policy, says Iran will not surrender control of the Strait of Hormuz. He told the BBC in Tehran that the strait is an inalienable national right and that Iran will determine passage and authorisations for vessels. MPs are preparing a bill under article 110 of the constitution to regulate environmental protections, maritime safety and national security, with enforcement assigned to the armed forces.
Tehran treats influence over the waterway as a long-term strategic leverage rather than a temporary bargaining chip, officials say. Mohammad Eslami, a research fellow at the University of Tehran, described restoring deterrence after the war as a priority and listed the Strait of Hormuz among Iran’s main strategic levers. He added that Iran is willing to discuss how other countries might benefit from its new framework, but insisted that Iranian control is non-negotiable.
Hardline lawmakers dominate parliament and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has become more centralised in decision-making following a series of assassinations in strikes blamed on Israel. Azizi characterised the strait as an asset for confronting adversaries and framed Tehran’s stance as defending its rights against what he called American pressure.
Regional governments have responded with alarm. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, described Tehran’s moves as hostile piracy and warned that asserting control over international waters would set a dangerous precedent. Oman, which controls the southern coastline of the strait and remains one of Iran’s few regional partners, has been engaged in talks with Tehran aimed at ensuring safe transit.
There are signs of disagreement within Iran’s elite. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted that the strait was completely open, drawing immediate rebukes from IRGC-linked outlets and state media that said his words risked handing a political win to the United States. Araghchi later clarified that the waterway is open only to vessels authorised by the IRGC navy, using designated routes and subject to tolls. Azizi dismissed the notion of a split over national security, saying there are no moderate or hardline approaches, and declined to set a date for lifting restrictions, saying they will be removed only when it is safe and secure so that enemies cannot exploit an opening.
Washington has urged Tehran to reopen the corridor. Former US president Donald Trump publicly called on Iran to allow passage and accused Tehran of trying to blackmail the United States. A White House official told the BBC that a delegation, to be led again by US Vice-President JD Vance, will travel for talks. Iranian officials have not confirmed whether their delegation, led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, will return to meetings in Pakistan; local reports suggest Iran may stay away while a US blockade of Iranian ports remains in place.
Asked about arrests and recent death sentences for protesters detained during January’s nationwide demonstrations, Azizi repeated Tehran’s claims that foreign intelligence agencies were involved and defended the government’s security actions, saying that even in a ceasefire there are rules in wartime.
The BBC’s chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet is reporting from Tehran under restrictions that none of her material be used by the BBC Persian Service. Similar restrictions apply to all international media organisations operating inside Iran.