Iran Establishes Persian Gulf Strait Authority; Threatens Hormuz Subsea Cables
Iran is formalising and institutionalising its claimed control over transit through the Strait of Hormuz in contravention of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The newly established Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) stated on X yesterday that it serves as the “legal institution and representative authority” for managing transit through the strait, claims that navigation through the designated zone requires “full coordination” with the authority, and warns that unauthorised transit will be considered illegal. Iranian state media reports 1,500 vessels currently waiting for Iranian permission to transit. IRGC-affiliated Fars News said Iran could impose “permits, oversight measures, and sovereign fees” on subsea fibre-optic cables.
The major subsea cables running through the Strait of Hormuz include AAE-1 (Asia-Africa-Europe 1), FALCON and the Gulf Bridge International Cable System — three of which (FALCON, GBICS, OMRAN/EPEG) connect directly to Iran. IRGC-affiliated Javan News has previously warned that simultaneous damage to several major subsea cables, including through “deliberate actions”, could cause widespread disruptions to communications and digital infrastructure between Asia, the Gulf and Europe. Iran’s assertion that the Strait of Hormuz lies within its territorial waters is incorrect under Articles 37, 38 and 44 of UNCLOS, which establish the Strait of Hormuz as an international strait with right of transit passage and prohibit bordering states from hampering passage. US Central Command said yesterday that US forces have now redirected 85 commercial vessels and disabled four since the 13 April blockade began.