Iran Slashes Hormuz Traffic 95% With $2 Million Transit Tolls and Digital Disruption
Updated
Updated · The Diplomat · May 11
Iran Slashes Hormuz Traffic 95% With $2 Million Transit Tolls and Digital Disruption
7 articles · Updated · The Diplomat · May 11
Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz collapsed by almost 95% within weeks as Iran kept the waterway technically open but made passage selectively risky through mines, drones, AIS suppression and GNSS spoofing.
About 20 million barrels a day of oil and 112 billion cubic meters of LNG normally pass Hormuz, so the disruption hit Asian buyers hardest, especially India, China, Japan and South Korea.
Iran also pushed ships into a narrow corridor between Larak and Qeshm islands, demanded transit clearances and at one stage sought roughly $2 million per vessel, while Oman publicly rejected any joint arrangement.
Satellite and AIS data showed nearly 340 vessels around Hormuz at one point but only about 16% broadcasting positions, with more than 1,000 ships across the Gulf hit by spoofing and many operating dark.
The crisis suggests chokepoint control now rests less on fully closing a sea lane than on controlling the terms of access, exposing the fragility of Asian energy supply chains.
Iran now controls the world's oil tap without a naval victory. Who will control the next global chokepoint?
As digital warfare redefines maritime control, can technology ever make vital chokepoints like Hormuz truly secure again?
With 'freedom of navigation' gone, what is the new price of global energy security in an era of negotiated passage?
2026 Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Iran’s $2 Million Tolls Slash Ship Traffic by 95% and Upend Global Oil Trade
Overview
In early 2026, Iran dramatically reshaped global shipping by introducing a new transit toll policy in the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) set up a 'toll booth' system, requiring vessel operators to work with IRGC-approved intermediaries and submit detailed documentation for sanctions screening and geopolitical vetting. Only after receiving a clearance code and pilot escort could ships pass, with some operators paying up to USD 2 million per vessel. This strict process, enforced by the IRGC, led to a sharp drop in maritime traffic, soaring shipping costs, and major disruptions to global energy and trade routes.