Iran has ostensibly begun extracting transit fees from some commercial ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz, according to people familiar with the matter cited in a recent Bloomberg report, as the Middle East conflict enters its fourth week.

The payments, reportedly reaching as high as $2 million per voyage, are being handled on an ad hoc basis and arranged quietly, with no clear standardized system in place. The news follows reports from last week that Iran was accepting safe passage payments in China’s yuan.

The move effectively creates an informal toll across one of the world’s most critical maritime arteries, where roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas typically flows. Shipping through the strait has slowed to a trickle amid ongoing hostilities, with many vessels avoiding the route entirely or hugging Iran’s coastline under tightly controlled conditions.

The arrangement builds on earlier reports that Iran established a “safe shipping corridor” inside its territorial waters, where vessels are vetted and visually inspected by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Ships seeking passage must provide detailed ownership and cargo disclosures in advance, often coordinated through intermediaries or direct government negotiations with Tehran.

At least one tanker operator has already paid approximately $2 million for guaranteed transit, while multiple vessels from countries such as India have successfully crossed under varying arrangements. India, however, has pushed back publicly, maintaining that international law guarantees free navigation through the strait without fees, while conflicting reports say the country is raising the issue in discussions with President Donald Trump.

Gulf producers, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have also rejected the concept of transit charges, viewing it as a dangerous precedent that challenges maritime norms. Iranian officials have sent mixed signals. Lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi described the fees as part of a new “sovereign regime,” arguing that wartime conditions justify the charges as a display of authority.

At the same time, Iran’s embassy in India dismissed reports of $2 million payments as “unfounded,” creating a gap between official messaging and what shipping intelligence suggests is happening on the water. Behind the scenes, some policymakers in Tehran are considering formalizing the system, potentially embedding transit fees into a postwar framework that would reshape how the strait operates.

For now, the system remains opaque, selective, and deeply tied to wartime dynamics, but it signals a clear reality: control of the Strait of Hormuz is no longer just strategic—it is increasingly transactional. Interestingly, the $2 million fee follows U.S. President Trump, noting that he may help control strait traffic with Iranian leadership jointly.

• Why is Iran charging transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz?
  Iran appears to be leveraging wartime control of the strait to extract revenue and regulate shipping access. Although the reports are conflicting.
• How much are ships paying for passage?
  Some vessels have reportedly paid up to $2 million per voyage for safe transit.
• Is charging transit fees legal under international law?
  Countries like India argue that it violates established maritime rules guaranteeing free navigation.
• How is global shipping being affected?
  Traffic has dropped sharply, with only select, vetted vessels moving through limited corridors.

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