Iranian Parliament Proposes Toll System for Strait of Hormuz Transit

TEHRAN — The Iranian parliament introduced a motion on Sunday requiring commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to pay tolls in Iranian rial currency, a move aimed at regulating maritime traffic and offsetting financial losses from international sanctions.

Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, presented the proposal during a session of the Islamic Consultative Assembly. The legislation seeks to establish a new governance framework for the strategic waterway, citing a decree issued by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution as the legal basis for the initiative.

The Strait of Hormuz serves as a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies, with approximately 20 million barrels of oil passing through the narrow passage daily. The proposed toll system would apply to all ships navigating the Persian Gulf route, with payments mandated in Iran's national currency rather than the U.S. dollar or other international currencies.

Proponents of the measure argue that the tolls are necessary to compensate Tehran for economic damage inflicted by Western sanctions over the past decade. Officials state the revenue would fund infrastructure improvements and security operations within the strait, ensuring safer passage for international shipping.

The motion has not yet been voted upon by the full parliament. If approved, the legislation would require ratification by the Guardian Council before becoming law. Implementation details, including toll rates and enforcement mechanisms, remain unspecified in the initial draft.

International shipping companies and major oil-consuming nations have not yet issued formal responses to the proposal. The United States and European Union have historically opposed unilateral attempts to control the strait, viewing it as an international waterway governed by freedom of navigation principles.

Iranian officials have previously threatened to close the strait in response to sanctions, though such actions have not materialized. The new proposal represents a shift toward economic leverage rather than direct military confrontation.

Maritime lawyers and analysts note that imposing tolls on international waters could violate the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which grants innocent passage rights to vessels in straits used for international navigation. The legal implications of the proposal remain unclear pending further legislative action.

The timing of the motion coincides with heightened tensions in the region following recent diplomatic developments. Tehran has increasingly emphasized economic sovereignty in its foreign policy rhetoric, positioning the strait as a national asset subject to Iranian regulation.

Questions remain regarding how the toll system would be enforced and whether major shipping nations would comply with the requirement. The international community is expected to monitor the legislative process closely as the proposal advances through Iran's parliamentary system.