Iran's Hormuz authority says waters south of UAE port now under its control

Iran's newly created Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) has officially claimed a "controlled maritime zone" that extends into waters south of the United Arab Emirates' port of Fujairah.

This expanding jurisdiction explicitly challenges local sovereignty and freedom of navigation by enclosing vital shipping infrastructure specifically built to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. 

The Claimed Control Zones

According to maps and statements issued by the PGSA on May 20, 2026, the newly declared regulatory boundaries cover:

• The Eastern Entrance: Stretches from Kuh-e Mubarak in Iran to waters south of Fujairah in the UAE.
• The Western Entrance: Extends from the tip of Qeshm Island in Iran to Umm Al-Quwain in the UAE.

What the New Rules Require

Iran has announced that passage through these designated boundaries without explicit authorization is now considered illegal. Under the new mechanism, commercial vessels must adhere to the following framework: 

• Mandatory Permits: All transit through these zones requires direct coordination and prior approval from the PGSA.
• Data Disclosure: Before being granted a permit via email (info@PGSA.ir), ships must fully disclose their ownership, cargo manifests, crew lists, and insurance details.
• Fee Assessments: Reports indicate Iran is leveraging this structure as a fee-based transit corridor, with some vessels already facing "protection/specialized service" fees up to $2 million per trip, settled in Chinese yuan.
• Strict Bans: Vessels linked to Israel are completely banned, while those linked to the US or deemed "hostile nations" face severe restrictions or outright denial. 

Geopolitical Reactions and Economic Fallout

The announcement marks an intensification of the 2026 maritime blockade that began following conflicts involving Iran, the US, and Israel. [1, 9]

• The UAE's Pushback: The UAE strongly opposes Iran’s unilateral declaration, calling it a violation of regional sovereignty and freedom of navigation. In response, Abu Dhabi has announced it is fast-tracking the construction of its West-East Pipeline through Fujairah port to double its export capacity and bypass the contested strait entirely by 2027.
• Wartime Shipping Signals: International maritime analytics providers, such as Windward, note that global commercial traffic has trickled to a fraction of its normal volume. Many vessels are operating "dark" (turning off AIS transponders) or broadcasting pro-compliance messages in their destination fields to signal submission to the PGSA and avoid seizure.
• Sanctions Risks: The US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has warned international shipping firms that paying these transit fees to Iranian-linked entities triggers severe secondary sanctions, leaving commercial lines trapped between physical seizure or economic blacklisting.