Iran Begins Collecting Fees from Ships Transiting Strait of Hormuz

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's Parliament announced that a mechanism to collect fees from vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz has entered into force. Mohammad Zengene, a member of Parliament's Planning and Budget Commission, told the Fars news agency that each ship passing through the strategic waterway pays an average of $1.5 million to $2 million. Zengene said the fee collection is part of a new strait management plan prepared in advance by Parliament. A joint body has been established under the supervision of the High National Security Council in coordination with the Ministry of Economic Affairs to oversee the implementation process. Revenue collected through the fees will be transferred to the state treasury according to specific budget allocations, Zengene said. He also noted that some payments may be made using cryptocurrency, goods or barter systems rather than cash.