Iran Eyes $40B From Strait of Hormuz Security Fees As US Pushes Back

Iran is pushing to secure an estimated $40 billion annual windfall from the Strait of Hormuz by introducing fees for security, safety, and environmental services.

The Islamic Republic is attempting to leverage its post-war position to command unprecedented financial and administrative control over the global energy chokepoint, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The revenue-sharing proposal is being pitched to Persian Gulf neighbors and Beijing to secure broad regional backing.

The Revenue Model

Tehran is modeling the initiative on international waterways such as the Dardanelles, where Türkiye charges passing vessels a gold franc tax for sanitary and lifesaving services.

Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated during talks in Oman that management of the strait will not return to pre-war conditions.

The plan envisions Persian Gulf states participating in the agreement and sharing the generated revenue.

The current 60-day deal to end fighting places Iran in charge of demining the waterway while guaranteeing toll-free passage during the interim.

However, the document also grants Tehran a long-term voice in the future administration of the shipping corridor.

US and Regional Resistance

The proposal faces immediate pushback from Washington and regional capitals.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated during a visit to Bahrain that no country has the right to charge for international waterways, adding that Persian Gulf nations have rejected the fee proposal.

Anwar Gargash, presidential adviser in the United Arab Emirates, reinforced this stance, stating that new geopolitical realities cannot be imposed on Arab Gulf states.

Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi also reaffirmed that future maritime arrangements will exclude transit fees.

To mitigate disruptions, Muscat announced a temporary, toll-free corridor hugging the Omani coast for commercial tankers, coordinated with the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Legal Obstacles and Operations

Implementing the fees presents significant legal hurdles under maritime law.

Analysts note that Iran has signed regional and international agreements that prohibit unilateral levies on transit shipping.

Any formal service fee system would require consensus from the 176 member states of the IMO.

While negotiations continue, Iran has already set up a mandatory insurance firm for shippers and prohibited transit outside designated routes.

Commercial traffic through the strait reached approximately 70 crossings on Wednesday, up from wartime lows but still below the pre-war average of 130 daily oil tankers.