Iran's parliament is preparing legislation to formalise what has already begun in practice: charging tolls on every ship that wants to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The draft bill, expected to be finalised next week, would legally establish Iran's right to collect transit fees from commercial vessels using the strait — transforming a wartime blockade into a permanent fixture of global maritime trade.
The numbers are already real. According to reports, at least 20 ships have transited a narrow corridor through Iranian territorial waters since March 23, each paying as much as $2 million for the privilege. Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi confirmed the practice, stating that "war has costs" and that Iran "must take transit fees from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz."
The Scale of the Crisis
Nearly 2,000 commercial vessels are currently stranded in or near the Persian Gulf, unable to transit the strait. Approximately 20,000 seafarers are trapped aboard these ships, facing what the UN's International Maritime Organization describes as "mental strain, fatigue, and decreasing supplies." At least six major cruise ships carrying an additional 15,000 passengers are also stuck.
The humanitarian dimension is growing by the day. Crew members who signed on for routine voyages weeks ago are now effectively trapped, their contracts extended indefinitely by circumstances beyond anyone's control. Some vessels are running low on fresh water and provisions. Medical evacuations have been complicated by the restricted access to ports on both sides of the strait.
How the Toll Works
Iran has declared the strait open to "non-hostile" nations — a category it defines at its own discretion. Ships from countries that have not participated in or supported military action against Iran can apply for transit through a corridor managed by the IRGC Navy. The application process, such as it is, involves payment in Chinese yuan — a deliberate choice that reinforces Iran's economic alignment with Beijing and undermines the dollar's role in global energy trade.
The fee structure is opaque, but reports suggest charges of between $500,000 and $2 million depending on the vessel's size, cargo, and flag state. Chinese and Indian vessels have received preferential treatment. Western-flagged ships have been excluded entirely.
The Legal and Economic Implications
International maritime law, specifically the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, guarantees transit passage through international straits. Iran's toll law would directly contradict this principle, asserting sovereign control over waters that the international community has long treated as a global commons.
The economic implications extend far beyond the strait itself. If Iran can successfully monetise control of Hormuz, it creates a template that other nations could follow at other chokepoints — the Strait of Malacca, the Suez Canal approaches, the Bab el-Mandeb. The precedent is as dangerous as the toll itself.
No Resolution in Sight
The UN Security Council remains deadlocked on the Hormuz question, with Russia and China blocking any resolution that would authorise the use of force to reopen the strait. Diplomatic efforts through the UK's proposed international summit have yet to produce a date or an agenda. Meanwhile, the toll booth stays open, the ships stay stuck, and the bill for global trade keeps climbing.