Iran Plans Strait of Hormuz Shipping Fees Under New Maritime Control Mechanism
Iran is preparing a new maritime control mechanism in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz that would allow Tehran to regulate vessel traffic and charge fees for what it describes as “specialized services,” according to a senior Iranian lawmaker.
Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of Iran’s parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said the proposed system would apply to a designated shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil and LNG transit corridors.
In a post on X, Azizi stated that only commercial vessels and entities cooperating with Iran would be allowed to benefit from the planned arrangement.
“In this process, only commercial vessels and parties cooperating with Iran will benefit from it,” he wrote.
The senior lawmaker added that Iran would soon reveal further details about the maritime framework, while warning that the route “will remain closed to the operators of the so-called ‘freedom project.’”
The announcement comes as geopolitical tensions continue to disrupt maritime security and global energy shipping in the Gulf region. The situation escalated after US and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28 triggered retaliatory attacks by Tehran against Israel and US allies, alongside the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
A ceasefire later came into effect on April 8 following mediation efforts led by Pakistan, but negotiations held afterward in Islamabad failed to produce a long-term agreement.
Since April 13, the United States has maintained a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic in the strategic waterway, further increasing pressure on commercial shipping, tanker operators, and global energy markets.
Earlier in May, US President Donald Trump announced “Project Freedom,” a plan aimed at escorting vessels through the Strait of Hormuz despite Iran’s position that ships require prior authorization from Tehran before transiting the route. Trump later said the initiative would be paused.
Read: Iran Accuses US of “Unreasonable Demands” as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Shake Oil Markets
The latest developments have intensified concerns across the global maritime industry, particularly among tanker owners, LNG carriers, insurers, and energy traders monitoring risks to oil supply chains and freedom of navigation in the Gulf.
