Iran Demands Up to $2 Million for Hormuz Transit as US, China Reject Levy
Updated
Updated · DW (English) · May 28
Iran Demands Up to $2 Million for Hormuz Transit as US, China Reject Levy
2 articles · Updated · DW (English) · May 28
Up to $2 million per vessel is being demanded by Iran for "safe passage" through the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran also drafting a protocol with Oman that would require ships to obtain transit permits.
Iran says the charges cover war reparations, navigational services, environmental protection and added security, but maritime experts say UNCLOS allows only limited service fees in international straits, not full transit tolls.
Major global shippers are refusing to pay even as some Asian and smaller operators have complied; Washington is urging firms not to pay and warning violators could face secondary US sanctions.
The dispute has become a key obstacle in US-Iran talks on reopening Hormuz, which carried about one-fifth of global oil and gas consumption before the war, with US and UN planners weighing patrols, monitoring and demining.
Is Iran’s 'safe passage' fee a negotiation tactic or the spark for a wider global conflict?
With international law failing in Hormuz, which vital global trade route is next to be controlled?
Why is a key U.S. ally helping Iran control the world’s most critical oil chokepoint?
Iran’s $2 Million Strait of Hormuz Transit Fee: Global Energy Shock, Legal Crisis, and the Future of Maritime Trade
Overview
In May 2026, Iran imposed a $2 million transit fee on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, asserting strong control over this vital maritime chokepoint. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps now manages and controls vessel passage, dictating terms and selectively escorting ships, as seen with the Thailand-flagged Mayuree Naree. This move has fundamentally changed international shipping and energy trade, raising oil transport costs by about $1 per barrel and directly impacting global energy prices. Iran’s actions have increased economic and geopolitical risks, challenging established norms of free navigation and creating new pressures on global markets.