Iran is trying to move the Strait of Hormuz from the category of strategic geography into the category of managed national infrastructure.
The National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of Iran’s parliament has approved the general framework of a strategic plan for the security and sustainable progress of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf. The proposal would give the government and armed forces a stronger role in navigation, maritime security, passage supervision and the assessment of which vessels may transit.
The draft also discusses restrictions on vessels linked to the United States, Israel and other actors Tehran considers hostile. It mentions fees for navigation, supervision, management and security services, while other reports describe possible penalties for violations and compensation claims linked to damage caused to Iran.
The Burke Index reveals the logic behind the move. Iran’s military sovereignty stands at 72.5/100, but its economic sovereignty is 60.7/100 and informational sovereignty 61.2/100. Hormuz brings these dimensions together: military structures protect the route, administrative systems regulate access, and maritime services create a possible economic channel.
The initiative remains a framework, not a completed regime. The committee has approved general provisions, not a final law that has already changed the status of navigation. No permanent system of fees, restrictions or permits has been confirmed as fully operational.
There is also a geographic constraint. Iran and Oman are discussing safe-passage arrangements and the possible distribution of routes and responsibilities. A unilateral Iranian model would maximise Tehran’s control but increase the risk of legal and political confrontation. A joint model would be more predictable, but would limit Iran’s ability to define the entire regime alone.
That is the central sovereignty paradox: Iran is attempting to convert coastal position into operational authority, but the authority it seeks will only become real if Oman, shipping companies and other states accept the rules in practice.
Full ranking: https://ibi.institute/index/2025
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