According to Bloomberg, this fee is applied in case by case, not publicly, and there is no clear mechanism on how to pay or the currency used. Some ships have agreed to pay fees to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, but the process is still vague and not systematic.
This move shows the increasingly clear level of Iran's control over the maritime route considered the world's "energy throat". Every day, about 1/5 of the global oil and gas volume and a large volume of goods such as food, metals... are transported through this area.
In the context of the Middle East conflict at its fourth week, the number of ships passing through Hormuz has decreased sharply. Only a few ships - mainly linked to Iran - continue to move, while other ships have to choose routes close to the Iranian coast to limit risks.
Underground toll collection and lack of transparency are creating new barriers for sea transport, and at the same time increasing concerns that this route may be "militarized" for political purposes.
India has protested, affirming that international law guarantees freedom of navigation through Hormuz and no country has the right to impose fees for using this route.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had discussed with President Donald Trump about the impact of the conflict on this strategic maritime corridor.
Ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz is always open, safe and accessible is essential for the whole world," Mr. Modi emphasized.
Although currently unofficially applied, Iran is said to be considering turning this fee into an official mechanism in the post-conflict period. An Iranian MP recently revealed that the country's parliament is pushing for a proposal requiring countries to pay to use Hormuz as a "safe" transport route.
This move has met with strong reactions from Arab countries in the Gulf region. Major oil exporters such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) consider this a dangerous precedent, threatening energy sovereignty and security.
Currently, these two countries have increased the use of alternative oil pipelines to avoid dependence on Hormuz.
Iran's "location of toll stations" right on the world's most important energy transport route not only raises legal controversy, but also risks pushing the global energy market into a new spiral of instability.
