Iran Pushes $40 Billion Strait of Hormuz Fees, Trump Denies Toll Scheme

Iran is pushing a plan to generate $40 billion annually by charging for security and environmental services in the Strait of Hormuz as part of negotiations to permanently manage the waterway, according to officials familiar with the matter cited by the Wall Street Journal.

The Islamic Republic is pitching the revenue-sharing model to Persian Gulf neighbors and countries including China and Egypt, as it positions itself to control the global oil artery it blockaded during the recent war with the US.

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President Donald Trump contradicted the reports on Wednesday, insisting Iran has committed to toll-free passage and posting, "There are no tolls, no insurance costs, and no other charges of any kind being sought or received by Iran on ships traveling the Strait of Hormuz."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected Iran's vision during Middle East talks in Bahrain, saying, "No country on earth has the right to charge for the use of international waterways, and that will never be an acceptable condition of any deal."

A memorandum of understanding signed June 14 guarantees "safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days only" from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman, leaving the possibility of fee arrangements after negotiations conclude.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned shipowners on Wednesday that any new transit route through the Strait of Hormuz established without coordination with Tehran is "unacceptable and dangerous," threatening actions against vessels that ignore its instructions.

The IRGC Navy said that only the shipping routes designated by Iran are permitted for passage and that coordination with Iranian forces via the designated communication channel is mandatory, adding, "Navigation outside these routes is highly dangerous and prohibited."

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CNBC reported traffic data showing transits tripled to 93 last weekend compared with the prior comparable period, while MarineTraffic also confirmed 31 verified crossings on Tuesday by commercial and energy-laden vessels.

The warning came after a key naval information group proposed alternative shipping corridors on Saturday, saying the southern transit route with transponder signals on was "the recommended route."

CNBC also reported that the U.S. Treasury sanctioned Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority in May, describing it as an attempt to "extort global maritime trade."

Al-Monitor said Iran launched an attack on a cargo ship off the coast of Oman on Thursday, describing it as the first Iranian attack on a cargo ship since the ceasefire and as a test of Trump's deal regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

“Breaking News Click to pause breaking news tickerpause-simpleClose Breaking News Tickerclose-prominent At least 188 killed and 1,500 injured after powerful quakes rock VenezuelaVenezuela declares state of emergency over quakesUSGS says mass casualties likely and damage extensive Click to pause breaking news tickerpause-simpleClose Breaking News Tickerclose-prominent Toggle Play Krieg: For Iran control of the Strait of Hormuz is about the spoils of war Speaking to Al Jazeera, analyst Andreas Krieg, said Iran possesses sufficient geographic and military leverage in the Strait of Hormuz that no outside power can impose a solution”

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The British Maritime Trade Organization said the targeted vessel was struck on its starboard side about 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Dahait, Oman, and reported that the crew "reported no injuries aboard, but noted damage to the bridge."

After the attack, the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization said it had halted efforts to guide ships stranded in the strait, and IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Domínguez said in a statement that the halt was temporary, adding it would allow the organization to reaffirm "the continued existence of the necessary safety guarantees for ships seeking evacuation."

Al-Monitor linked the incident to the memorandum of understanding extending the ceasefire by 60 days last week and said it came one day after Marco Rubio arrived in Bahrain ahead of a Gulf Cooperation Council ministers’ meeting.

The joint statement after that meeting stressed that ministers rejected any fees or attempts to exert control over the strait and welcomed Oman’s and the International Maritime Organization’s announcement of an evacuation plan for more than 11,000 mariners stranded in the region.