Iran Vows Never to Surrender Control of Strait of Hormuz, Enshrining Power in Law

Iran's New Strategic Weapon

Iran is moving to permanently enshrine its control over the Strait of Hormuz in law, signaling that its grip on one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints is no temporary negotiating tactic but a long-term strategic asset. Ebrahim Azizi, a senior Iranian lawmaker and former Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commander who heads parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, told the BBC in Tehran that Iran will "never" relinquish control of the strait. He disclosed that parliament is introducing legislation based on Article 110 of Iran's constitution that would formalize the country's authority over vessel passage, maritime safety, and national security enforcement by the armed forces.

"Iran will decide the right of passage, including permissions for vessels to pass through the Strait."

This hardening of Iran's position comes after five weeks of regional conflict that has left Tehran emboldened by its military capabilities. War, Azizi explained, has handed Iran a potent new weapon: the ability to weaponize the strait itself. He described it frankly as "one of our assets to face the enemy," reflecting how Tehran now views control over this chokepoint—through which roughly one-third of global maritime oil trade passes—not as a temporary lever in negotiations but as permanent strategic leverage.

Hardliners Ascendant, Moderates Sidelined

Azizi represents the new power structure emerging in post-war Iran: a state increasingly dominated by hardliners and the IRGC, particularly following a series of Israeli assassinations of senior officials that have reshuffled Tehran's leadership. Mohammad Eslami, a research fellow at the University of Tehran, explained the strategic calculus: > "The first priority for Iran after the war is to restore deterrence and the Strait of Hormuz is among Iran's principal strategic leverages."

This ideological shift was on vivid display in a rare public rift that erupted within Iran's power structure when Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on social media that the Strait of Hormuz was "completely open." US President Donald Trump immediately responded with a capitalized "THANK YOU," seizing on the statement as a diplomatic victory. Within minutes, news outlets linked to the IRGC sharply rebuked Araghchi. The Mehr news agency accused him of providing "the best opportunity for Trump to go beyond reality, declare himself the winner of the war and celebrate victory." Tasnim news described the post as a "bad and incomplete tweet." Araghchi quickly clarified that the waterway was only open to IRGC-authorized ships using designated routes that require toll payments—a crucial distinction that underscores the reality: Iran intends to extract economic rent from maritime traffic.

When asked about these apparent divisions, Azizi dismissed them as illusory. "When it comes to national security, there are no moderate or hardline approaches," he insisted, reflecting the consensus among the regime's senior decision-makers.

Regional Neighbors Reject Iran's Vision

Iran's assertion of permanent control faces fierce regional opposition. Dr. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the president of the United Arab Emirates, condemned Iran's actions as "an act of hostile piracy" and warned that allowing Iran unilateral control would set a "dangerous precedent" for other strategic waterways worldwide. The UAE and most other Gulf states, except Oman—one of Iran's closest regional allies—are already furious about Iran's attacks during the recent conflict and view Tehran's maritime claims as an illegitimate power grab.

Azizi responded to such criticism with characteristic defiance, accusing Gulf states of having "sold our region to the Americans" and describing the US as "the biggest pirate in the world" due to its military bases across the Middle East. He emphasized Iran's desire to "work together to secure our region," a vision that most neighboring states have rejected entirely.

High-Stakes Negotiations and Trump's Pressure

The fate of the strait will ultimately be decided in high-level talks between the US and Iran. The first round of face-to-face negotiations took place in Islamabad last weekend, with talks reportedly set to resume there on Tuesday. US President Trump has said he is sending a delegation headed by Vice-President JD Vance, and he has made reopening the strait a central demand. Trump has repeatedly ordered Iran to open the corridor, warning in an expletive-laden social media post on April 5 that Iran would be "living in hell" if it failed to comply, and has since accused Tehran of attempting to "blackmail" the US.

Iranian officials have remained silent on whether their team, led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, will return to Pakistan. Local media report that Iran may refuse to attend so long as a US blockade of Iranian ports remains in effect, suggesting that negotiations are deadlocked before they have truly begun. Azizi dismissed Trump's criticism with contempt: > "I don't expect much from a man who twists the truth. We are just defending our rights in the face of American blackmail."

Information Control and Domestic Repression

The broader context of Iran's hardening stance includes a near-total digital blackout and intensifying internal repression. A near-total internet shutdown has been in force for weeks, denying most Iranians access to outside information while allowing high-level officials like Azizi to maintain access to international platforms like X, where they frequently mock Trump. When asked when the digital blackout would be lifted, Azizi refused to specify, only stating it would remain "when it is safe and secure we will lift the ban so that the enemy will not take advantage."

Meanwhile, human rights groups including Amnesty International report dozens of death sentences handed down to protesters arrested during January's nationwide unrest, which security forces crushed with lethal force, killing thousands. Several executions of young people have recently been carried out. When confronted about these arrests and sentences, Azizi repeated the government's claim that the CIA and Mossad had orchestrated the unrest and dismissed concerns that internal security would tighten further, declaring: "In war, even in a ceasefire, there are rules."