TEHRAN — Iran is considering a proposal to levy transit fees on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a lawmaker said on Thursday, a potential bid to monetize Tehran’s newfound grip over the critical waterway through which a fifth of global oil and liquefied gas passes.
According to the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA), the lawmaker said parliament was considering a bill under which countries using the strait for shipping, energy transit, and food supplies would be required to pay tolls and taxes to Iran.
A New Regime for the Strait
An adviser to Iran’s supreme leader indicated that “a new regime for the Strait of Hormuz” will follow the war’s eventual end, allowing Tehran to apply maritime restrictions on states that have sanctioned it.
“By using the strategic position of the Strait of Hormuz, we can sanction (the West) and prevent their ships from passing through this waterway,” Mohammad Mokhber said on Thursday, according to the Mehr news agency.
Conflict Context
Since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran on February 28, 2025, Tehran has disrupted maritime transit through the strait for vessels it says are linked to its war adversaries and their allies. Iran has also fired drones and missiles at Israel and US military bases and installations in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
The disruption has caused a near standstill in commercial shipping and a surge in energy prices worldwide. The closure of Hormuz—an energy artery responsible for 20 percent of oil and gas flow from the Gulf to global markets—has heightened fears of a prolonged energy shock and broader regional instability.
Global Implications
Global powers are now weighing military and diplomatic options to restore access to the key waterway. The proposed transit fees would represent a significant escalation in Iran’s efforts to leverage its strategic position amid the conflict, potentially transforming the strait from a transit route into a revenue-generating chokepoint.
The move would also mark a fundamental shift in the legal and economic framework governing one of the world’s most critical maritime passages, with implications for energy security, shipping costs, and international trade.
