Iran will never relinquish control of the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Iranian lawmaker has stated according to Iran’s state-run Press TV, calling the vital waterway an inseparable part of the Islamic Republic’s national sovereignty that will remain under full Iranian authority.

Ebrahim Azizi, a former commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, made the remarks in an interview with a BBC correspondent in Tehran on Sunday.

“Never,” Azizi replied when asked if Tehran would ever cede control of the Strait. “It’s our inalienable right. Iran will decide the right of passage, including permissions for vessels to pass through the Strait.”

He stated that this principle is being formalised through legislation. “We are introducing a bill in parliament, based on Article 110 of the constitution, which covers the environment, maritime safety, and national security — and the armed forces will implement the law,” the senior MP said.