Iran has begun asking commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to pay transit fees, a development that increases Tehran's practical control over the narrow seaway that links key energy producers with global markets.
According to a report that cited people familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity, the requested charges can reach as much as $2 million for a single voyage. The approach is informal and targeted at a select number of ships rather than applied under a publicly disclosed regime.
Those sources said some vessels have complied with the demands and paid the requested amounts. However, details about how the payments are made - including the mechanism and the currency used - were not clear in the reporting. The account described an inconsistent application of the requests, with no evident set of rules guiding which ships are approached.
The transactions have reportedly been handled quietly. The lack of transparent guidelines and the uncertainty over which vessels might be asked to pay next are creating additional complications for operators moving through the strait.
Shipping activity in the waterway has already been reduced since the war began. Only a limited number of vessels have chosen to transit the strait, and many of those that have done so are linked to Iran. Other ships that remain in the region have taken routes that hug Iran's coastline more closely than in normal conditions.
The emergence of these informal transit requests introduces another layer of operational uncertainty for carriers and charterers using the Strait of Hormuz. While the report indicates that the practice is selective and opaque, the potential for large, ad hoc charges underscores volatility in passage costs and routing decisions for vessels operating in the corridor.