---
title: "Iran's Hormuz authority says waters south of UAE port now under its control"  
description: "Iran's Hormuz authority says waters south of UAE port now under its control"  
author: "Yogendra  Mohan"  
published: 2026-05-21  
updated: 2026-05-21  
canonical: https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/88538/iran-s-hormuz-authority-says-waters-south-of-uae-port-now-under-its-control  
category: "international"  
tags: ["international"]  
reading_time: 3 minutes  

---

# 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](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/45863/which-are-the-best-luxury-hotels-in-united-arab-emirates)' port of** [**Fujairah**](https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/g/1pznmngfz).

This expanding jurisdiction explicitly challenges local sovereignty and freedom of navigation by enclosing vital shipping infrastructure specifically built to bypass the [Strait of Hormuz](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/88520/donald-trump-sends-warships-to-break-iran-s-strait-of-hormuz-blockade).

## 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**](https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/g/11c1ql8b0x) in Iran to waters **south of** [**Fujairah**](https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/g/1pznmngfz) in the UAE.
- **The Western Entrance**: Extends from the tip of [**Qeshm Island**](https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/06zc21) in Iran to [**Umm Al-Quwain**](https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/g/1214fc2m) 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](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/irans-hormuz-transit-toll-mechanism-and-what-it-means-at-sea/), 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.

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Original Source: https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/88538/iran-s-hormuz-authority-says-waters-south-of-uae-port-now-under-its-control

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