Iran is setting up a formal vetting and registration system, run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, for ships that want to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, according to maritime intelligence service Lloyd's List. Think of it as a permit office with guns nearby and a lot of paperwork.

What Iran is proposing

Under the reported plan, ships that hope to use a pre-approved route will need to provide detailed information ahead of transit. That includes ownership of the vessel and the destination of the cargo. Lloyd's says those details are being submitted via Iran-affiliated people operating outside Iran.

Which countries are talking to Tehran

Several countries are reportedly in direct talks with Iran about transits through its territorial waters in the Strait. Lloyd's List names India, Pakistan, Iraq, Malaysia and China as participants in those discussions.

How the rules would work in practice

  • Pre-approval needed. Ships would be approved on a case by case basis rather than passing freely.
  • Safe corridor. A corridor inside Iranian territorial waters has emerged recently, and at least nine ships have used it, Lloyd's reports.
  • Payment question. One tanker is reported to have paid about $2 million for the right to transit. It is not clear whether paying is standard practice or an exception.

Why traffic has collapsed

Traffic through the Strait has dropped sharply since the report says the United States and Israel launched a war on Iran three weeks ago. Maritime volume through the channel has plunged about 95 percent, which matters because roughly one fifth of the world\'s oil normally moves through the Strait.

Ship behavior and risks

Maritime data show that a small number of vessels have continued to transit, mainly ships flagged to Pakistan, India or China. Some operators turned off their automatic identification system while others openly declared Chinese credentials to Iranian authorities. Earlier rhetoric from the IRGC threatened to set ablaze any ship attempting to pass, though Iran\'s foreign minister said the Strait was open but closed to "our enemies."

Practical and commercial hurdles

Alex Mills, an international trade and maritime law expert, told Al Jazeera that the registration proposal might help some states in the short term but creates fresh risks. He pointed out that the approach runs counter to the common practice of going dark when entering Iranian waters and that declaring cargo destinations increases exposure to attack while the conflict continues.

Mills also highlighted commercial obstacles. Even if Tehran permits transit, insurers may refuse coverage or charge prohibitive premiums. Sanctions, operating safety, and security concerns could make the route uneconomic for many shipping firms.

Why opening the corridor may not restore normal trade

Shipping decisions are not made overnight. Maritime supply chains are planned months in advance, with booked routes and cargo schedules. Even if a corridor is available now, firms that want confidence and clear economic benefit will be slow to change. Without that, ships simply will not start moving again in meaningful numbers.

Bottom line: Iran appears to be moving from ad hoc approvals to a formal, IRGC-run vetting system for Strait transits. A few countries and a handful of ships are testing the arrangement, but major legal, insurance, and commercial hurdles remain before routine traffic can resume.