Iran has been forcing oil tankers to pay millions of dollars to pass through a new, narrower route in the Strait of Hormuz. Now, Iran’s parliament is working to make these fees official and permanent. Shipping industry experts are already calling it “the Tehran toll booth.”
Before the U.S. and Israel launched their bombing campaign on February 28, around 110 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz every day. That number has since dropped to fewer than 10 vessels daily, according to NBC News. The remaining ships are now taking a different path through Iran’s territorial waters, squeezing through a tight channel between the islands of Qeshm and Larak.
Tomer Raanan, a maritime risk analyst with a prominent shipping journal, explained that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is essentially acting as a toll booth, verifying each ship’s information as it passes through the channel. This new route is less than 20 miles from Iran’s main naval base at Bandar Abbas. Since March 13, tracking data shows at least 25 vessels have taken this route.
Iran is turning temporary control of the strait into a long-term political and financial strategy
One of those vessels was the Chinese tanker Bright Gold, which made the voyage on March 23. Video footage shared by a crew member on Douyin shows the ship sailing between the two islands. The sailor points out high-rise Iranian buildings in the distance, saying, “In a few days, American soldiers might come here. This might be the main fighting spot.” The video ends with the crew member saying it was too dangerous to keep filming.
At least two ships have already paid fees in Chinese yuan, according to Raanan. Iran has not set a consistent policy yet, but the Gulf Cooperation Council, a bloc of six Gulf Arab nations, confirmed on Thursday that Iran is officially charging for safe passage through the strait. Trump has separately called the Iran power handover a success, even as U.S.-backed leaders in the region have faced serious setbacks.
Iranian state media has reported that parliament is preparing legislation to make these tolls official. Lawmaker Mohammadreza Rezaei Kouchi was quoted saying, “We provide its security, and it is natural that ships and oil tankers should pay such fees.” Alaeddin Boroujerdi, a member of Iran’s national security committee, had earlier suggested on state television that a $2 million fee would demonstrate Iran’s authority over the strait.
Israel announced on Thursday that it had killed Alireza Tangsiri, the head of the Revolutionary Guard’s naval forces, who was responsible for mining and blockading the strait. Before his death, Iran was believed to be behind attacks on at least 18 ships in and around the Persian Gulf since the war began.
On March 6, four sailors were killed on a tugboat near the strait. The broader U.S. military picture in the region has also faced embarrassment, with Trump downplaying Kuwait shooting down three U.S. F-15s worth $300 million as a minor incident.
Iran’s foreign ministry sent a letter to UN Secretary General António Guterres stating that the waterway remains open to “non-hostile vessels” as long as they coordinate with “competent Iranian authorities.” One of the five conditions Iran issued on Thursday for ending the war is “recognition of Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz,” making clear that this is about long-term control over a critical global waterway, not just collecting fees.
Published: Mar 27, 2026 02:05 pm