Iranian lawmakers have announced that the country has begun depositing revenue from tolls charged to ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz into the state central bank, asserting full control over the vital waterway. Deputy Speaker of the Iranian parliament Hamidreza Hajibabaei declared on Thursday that Iran “has control over this Strait,” adding: “We are not engaged in negotiations—rather, we are making demands.”
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil and fertilizer trade, has been blockaded by Iran since the onset of hostilities with the U.S. and Israel in late February. While the waterway was supposed to remain open as part of a recently extended ceasefire agreement with the United States, Iranian officials are now attempting to extract toll revenue from vessels as a condition for passage.
Iranian lawmaker Alireza Salimi stated that “the amount collected from each ship depends on its cargo and level of risk they pose. Iran determines how much and how these fees are collected, in other words, we determine the rules.”
Reports indicate that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been laying mines in the Strait this week, prompting President Donald J. Trump to order the U.S. Navy to “shoot and kill” any boats engaged in such activities. The United States is maintaining a retaliatory blockade against Iranian ships in the region.
The obstruction has driven oil prices above $100 per barrel, straining global energy markets and raising gas prices for consumers in the United States.
