Tehran eyes fees for transit through strait of Hormuz

Iranian lawmakers have proposed a bill to impose tolls and taxes on vessels passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. According to local media, parliament members say countries should pay for using the route for energy shipments, food supplies, and ensuring secure transit.

Lawmaker Somayeh Rafiei stressed that Iran would guarantee the security of navigation in the strait but expects financial compensation in return. She stated that control over the route would be enforced “with strength and authority,” and its use would no longer be free of charge.

Amid the Middle East conflict, which began in late February following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, shipping through the strait has effectively come to a halt. Iranian forces have attacked several vessels that, according to Tehran, ignored warnings, while authorities have threatened to block ships from countries supporting the “aggression.”

The disruption has been affecting global markets for a third consecutive week. Major oil and gas exporters in the Persian Gulf—including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq—are heavily dependent on this route and have virtually no viable alternatives for maritime exports. As a result, energy shipments have dropped sharply, increasing pressure on global markets.

Experts note that the disruption in traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has already caused supply chain issues for oil, fertilizers, grains, and vegetable oils. This has pushed prices to multi-month highs and raised concerns about lower harvests of key crops such as wheat and rice, potentially leading to further increases in global food prices.