Iran Claims First Revenue Collected from Strait of Hormuz Transit Fees

Iran’s Deputy Speaker Hamidreza Haji Babaei has said that the country has received its first revenue from tolls imposed on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, with the funds deposited into the central bank.

According to a report by Tasnim News Agency, Haji Babaei did not provide details on how the revenue was collected or which parties paid the tolls. BBC reported that it has not been able to independently verify the claim.

Prior to the current ceasefire, Tehran had indicated that transit through the Strait of Hormuz would be restricted for countries other than those considered “friendly.” Discussions were also ongoing regarding the imposition of fees on vessels using the route.

However, Iran had not clearly specified whether such fees were being charged or the exact amounts. In late March, reports emerged suggesting that Tehran planned to charge as much as $2 million per vessel for passage through the strait. At the time, the Iranian embassy in New Delhi denied those claims.

On Wednesday, another senior Iranian lawmaker, Alireza Salimi, told that he had learned from reliable sources that Iran had begun collecting fees from ships transiting the Strait.

Salimi added that the amount charged depends on factors such as the type of vessel, the volume of cargo it carries, and the level of risk it may pose to Iran. He noted that Tehran determines both the method and scale of the fees.