Parallel Hormuz corridors threaten Iran’s strategic position
By Delaram Ahmadi
Staff writer
Following the signing of the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States, one of whose provisions called for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the two countries have once again become embroiled in limited confrontations over arrangements governing transit through the vital waterway. Iran insists that under the MOU, only arrangements endorsed by Tehran should be implemented, while reports indicate that a parallel shipping route has been established off the coast of Oman. Speaking to Iran Daily, Afifeh Abedi, an international affairs expert, said the United States is attempting to weaken Iran's strategic position in the Strait of Hormuz by bypassing the provisions of the Islamabad Memorandum and pressuring Oman to establish parallel routes.
IRAN DAILY: What legal, security and geopolitical consequences would parallel arrangements for managing or securing the Strait of Hormuz have for Iran?
ABEDI: From a legal standpoint, any attempt to establish parallel arrangements constitutes a unilateral measure lacking legal legitimacy, as it disregards the sovereign rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran as a coastal state. Moreover, such a move represents a clear violation of the Iran-US MOU, as Article 5 of the document explicitly defines the management of the Strait of Hormuz within the framework of coordination with Iran. Consequently, any action taken outside that framework would amount to a blatant breach of international commitments and would therefore lack legal validity.
Accordingly, any shipping route that has not been approved by Iran would lack guarantees for safe passage and would not benefit from insurance coverage or the necessary safety assurances. As a result, responsibility for any incident or potential damage would rest with entities operating outside the officially recognized arrangements.
From a security perspective, establishing parallel structures in a waterway that falls within the security jurisdiction of the Iranian coastal state gives Tehran the right to respond decisively, in accordance with both international and domestic law, to any unauthorized passage through its territorial waters.
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