Iran is charging vessel operators $2mn to transit the strait of Hormuz because of the "cost of war", according to an Iranian official, but some sources dispute the claim.
"Yes, of course, we have to do this because of the war," Iranian parliament member Alaeddin Boroujerdi said on 22 March via Iranian state TV. "Iran has the right to transfer $2mn [from vessels wanting to transit the strait of Hormuz]. This shows the power and the right that the Islamic Republic of Iran has."
But a post by Iran's embassy in India on social media site X early Monday refuted the claim.
"The statements made in this regard merely reflect the personal views of individuals and do not, in any way, represent the official position of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the post said.
Iran has signaled that the strait is "open", from its perspective, for vessels from non-enemy combatant countries and that such vessels can pass if they first contact Iran and discuss arrangements, according to Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi.
It is unclear whether the potential $2mn payment by vessel operators to secure this safe passage, likely via a chokepoint set up between two islands near the Iranian coast, is one-way or round-trip. Iran's levying of tolls on passage for around 20pc of the global oil shipments that transit the region would be akin to the Panama Canal or Egypt's Suez Canal.
Vessel operators from countries like China, India or Japan wishing to enter and load cargo may need to pay $4mn in total to exit the region safely again.
US president Donald Trump announced Monday that the US and Iran had "VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING A COMPLETE AND TOTAL RESOLUTION OF OUR HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST" via his Truth Social social media company. But if the war does wrap up in the near term, it remains to be seen whether the previous status quo returns or if Iran will maintain tighter control over the strait of Hormuz charge transit fees moving forward.
