Iran has further "consolidated" its control over the Strait of Hormuz through military checkpoints, vessel inspections, diplomatic agreements, and fees for the safe passage of vessels.
Reuters reports this on its website, highlighting the central role of the Revolutionary Guards. In the new multi-level transit system , priority is given to ships linked to allies like China or Russia, while other vessels may require intergovernmental agreements or payments that, according to sources contacted by Reuters, exceed $150,000 .
The new system, therefore, may also include agreements with individual governments, even if they are not allies. In addition to the payment of heavy commissions, it is the Pasdaran who decide who can and cannot pass through what is the transit route for a fifth of the world's oil supplies, the closure of which has thrown the global economy into chaos .
Some pay, some pass through thanks to political alliances, and some are rejected. This is the new normal, according to about twenty sources consulted by the agency. The payments and names of the shipowners who paid the Iranian authorities are being kept secret, as such payments would violate US sanctions against Tehran. And the proven fact that the shipowners deal directly with Iran demonstrates the degree of control the Pasdaran have over the Strait.
Outside of government agreements, the process for obtaining an Iranian transit permit involves a thorough vetting process conducted by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps , which examines a so-called affiliation document provided by the shipowner, which serves to identify whether the vessel has any connection to the United States or Israel. Reviewing the documentation takes about a week, and the vessel may need to be physically inspected during the process.
In the last 24 hours, the Pasdaran reported, 26 boats have crossed Hormuz "in coordination" with the Revolutionary Guards, who "provided security for the passage," according to a statement.
(Unioneonline/L)