The Iranian parliament is developing a bill that will officially establish the collection of fees from commercial vessels and oil tankers for transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to The Times of Israel, Iranian lawmakers have begun working on a document aimed at formalizing Tehran's sovereignty over this strategically important waterway. According to the Fars and Tasnim agencies, which are closely linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the initiative is intended to strengthen control over shipping and create a new source of government revenue.
Deputy Mohammadreza Rezaei Kouchi, commenting on the development of the plan, emphasized that the introduction of fees is a "completely natural" step. He stated that the Strait of Hormuz represents a transport corridor similar to other global routes where the transit of goods is subject to tariffs. The Iranian side justifies its claims by stating that it is responsible for security in the region, and therefore commercial vessels, including oil tankers, should pay for the corresponding services.
The Strait of Hormuz is the only outlet from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and is crucial for global energy security. According to international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the strait is used for international shipping and is open for unobstructed transit passage. Experts note that Tehran's attempt to unilaterally change the status of the strait and impose transit fees will inevitably face strong resistance from the international community, including the United States and the Arab states of the Persian Gulf.
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