Iran announces new body to manage Strait of Hormuz

TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has announced the formation of a new authority to manage the Strait of Hormuz, state-linked media reported on Monday, as tensions remain high in the Gulf.

The council said on its official social media account on X that the new entity, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), would provide “real-time updates on the Hormuz Strait operations and latest developments,” according to posts shared by Iranian media and affiliated accounts.

The same announcement was also shared by the Revolutionary Guards’ navy account.

The Supreme National Security Council is Iran’s top security body, chaired by the Supreme Leader’s representative.

The move comes amid ongoing regional tensions and heightened scrutiny of shipping routes through the strategic waterway, a key global energy corridor.

Separately, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said talks with the United States were continuing through Pakistani mediation, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.

The spokesperson said speculation regarding uranium enrichment and materials had “no basis,” adding that Iran had “no enmity with any country in the region” and that regional states should draw lessons from recent developments.

“They saw that the presence of America does not bring security and causes insecurity for everyone,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying.

In other regional developments, Gulf states condemned a series of drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Kuwait and Qatar issued separate statements strongly denouncing drone incursions into Saudi airspace, which officials said originated from Iraq. Kuwait said the attacks violated UN Security Council Resolution 2817, while Qatar described them as a “rejected aggression” and a violation of Saudi sovereignty.

Both countries expressed full solidarity with Riyadh and said they supported any measures taken to protect Saudi territory and citizens.

Oman also condemned a drone attack that caused a fire at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the UAE, calling for restraint and dialogue while rejecting “all hostile and escalatory acts.”

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was “deeply alarmed” by reports of damage near the Barakah facility, a UN spokesperson account on X said, warning that attacks near civilian and nuclear infrastructure were unacceptable and violated international law.

Separately, former U.S. congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said on X that potential deployment of U.S. troops into Iran could trigger “a political revolution in America,” reiterating opposition to foreign wars.