Live updates: Trump promises Iran war will end ‘right after the election’ or sooner as 9,000 troops head to Middle East

Iran’s parliament has completed committee consideration of a bill that would establish what lawmakers define as Iran’s future management of the Strait of Hormuz, including imposing fees on commercial ships using the vital waterway.

Hassan Ghashghavi, spokesperson for the Parliamentary National Security Commission, told the semi-official Tasnim news agency that the draft “Strategic Action Plan for Ensuring the Security and Sustainable Development of the Strait of Hormuz” would preserve Iranian control over all traffic passing through the strait, in line with Iran’s national interests and security.

According to the bill, Iran would charge ships for services such as navigation, environmental protection, resupply and fuel. Ships linked to Israel, countries deemed hostile by Iran, countries that have taken military action against Iran or ships carrying military goods would be barred from crossing the strait under the legislation, Ghashghavi said.

Ships from countries not considered hostile should obtain permission from the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces before transiting the waterway, he added.

The bill will now be debated and voted on by Iran’s full parliament and, if approved, will then have to be reviewed by Iran’s powerful Guardian Council and other authorities before becoming law in the country.

The Trump administration rejects Iran’s rhetoric suggesting it will control the strait in the future, as well as Tehran’s current demands that all commercial ships seek permission to transit.

Iran has repeatedly targeted oil tankers and other vessels that it accuses of using the strait without its permission, however, significantly limiting the flow of oil and gas out of the Persian Gulf since the start of the war.