Iran Blacklists 45 Ships Over Alleged Strait of Hormuz Violations
The Persian Gulf Straits Authority has imposed restrictions on 45 vessels for violating transit rules in the Strait of Hormuz, with many of the ships on the list having previously been attacked in regional conflicts.
Iran has announced that it has blacklisted 45 vessels, including ships with links to India and Pakistan, for allegedly violating transit protocols in the Strait of Hormuz. A statement by the Persian Gulf Straits Authority indicated that these non-compliant ships could face sanctions such as seizure, attempted seizure, or fines during future transits.
Blacklisted Ships and Their Connections
Among the 45 ships blacklisted by Iran are the Indian-based bulk carrier Maha Roos and the Pakistan-flagged oil tanker Mardan. Investigations show that a large portion of the vessels on the list are linked to United Arab Emirates-based entities, while some belong to countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Malta, and Singapore.
The Persian Gulf Straits Authority (PGSA) stated that non-compliant vessels will face penalties such as fines, detention, or confiscation in future transits. It was also reported that other maritime vessels cooperating with those on the blacklist will be added to the list, and formal applications are required to be removed from it.
Conflict Process and Security Issues
Since the conflicts began in late February, Tehran has been trying to establish a shipping corridor under its own control in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which is governed by international maritime law. However, not all vessels passing through the region choose to use the northern route approved by Iran.
According to data analysis, at least 14 of the 45 ships that Iran has threatened to sanction were damaged in attacks carried out in the region during the war in the Middle East. Almost all of these incidents, approved by the International Maritime Organization and classified as attacks by the British maritime security agency UKMTO, took place along the route off the coast of Oman, which is US-backed and prohibited by Iran.
Commercial Voyages and Regional Traffic
According to data from maritime tracking platform Kpler, 39 of the ships on the list are commodity carriers and have passed through the strait at least once since March. While some vessels were determined to have passed through the strait 12 times, a crew member on one of these ships, the tanker Al Bahyah, lost their life in an attack carried out in July.