Iran has said it collected its first revenues from tolls imposed on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, marking a major escalation in its control over one of the world’s most strategically important energy routes.
Parliament Deputy Speaker Hamidreza Haji Babaei said on Thursday the first payments had already been transferred to the Central Bank.
“First revenues from transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz have been deposited into the Central Bank account,” he said, according to the semi-official Tasnim News Agency.
Lawmaker Alireza Salimi also confirmed that Iran had begun collecting fees from vessels passing through the narrow waterway, citing what he described as reliable sources.
Neither official disclosed how many ships had paid or the total amount collected.
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Fees based on cargo and risk
According to Tasnim, the charges vary depending on the type and volume of cargo as well as the level of risk posed by each vessel.
Iran is setting both the pricing structure and the collection mechanism.
Later on Thursday, Iran’s central bank said the payments were received in “cash currency,” rejecting earlier reports that Tehran had demanded payment in cryptocurrency.
