Tehran Eyes Hormuz Tolls to Monetise Maritime Grip Amid Regional War

In a bold move to leverage its strategic position, the Iranian parliament is considering a bill to levy transit fees on all vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. According to a member of parliament, the proposed “security tax” would apply to countries using the vital waterway for shipping, energy transit, and food supplies. This legislative push is seen as a strategic bid to monetize Tehran’s control over a corridor that handles approximately 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas, particularly as the ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict continues to paralyze commercial traffic in the region.

The proposal coincides with a warning from Mohammad Mokhber, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, who signaled a “new regime” for the strait once the war concludes. Mokhber indicated that Iran intends to shift from being a sanctioned nation to an “enhanced power” capable of imposing its own maritime restrictions on “domination-seeking” Western states. As global energy prices surge past $115 per barrel following recent strikes on gas infrastructure, the introduction of transit tolls could further complicate international shipping logistics and exacerbate the economic shockwaves felt across the global market.