Lead

Iranian authorities have received revenue from tolls for ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz for the first time, according to Parliament Deputy Speaker Hamid Reza Hajibabai, as reported by TASS. The development comes amid conflicting signals about a proposed $1 per barrel fee for oil tankers transiting the strategic waterway, with the United States expressing opposition while also suggesting a potential joint venture.

Coverage Comparison

TASS reported on April 23 that Hajibabai said the first toll revenue had been transferred to the Central Bank's account. This followed earlier statements from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi about reopening the strait to commercial vessels. However, the same TASS report noted that US President Donald Trump stated Washington would maintain the blockade of Iranian waters until a final agreement is reached, after which Iranian Armed Forces said they had closed the strait until the American naval blockade was fully lifted.

The fee plan itself has been described in detail by Hamid Hosseini, spokesman for Iran's Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters' Union, who told the Financial Times (as reported by TASS) that Iran plans to charge $1 per barrel of oil in Bitcoin during the ceasefire, inspect any vessel deemed necessary, and require tankers to email cargo information. Hosseini warned that vessels attempting to transit without permission "will be destroyed."

However, Abdul Majid Hakim Elahi, the Supreme Leader's envoy, told TASS on April 10 that information about the fee is "just talks" with no formal confirmation. "There is no official statement from Iran that they [the ships] have to pay this. That's just talking," he said, adding that some countries' ships "announced that they didn't pay anything."

Key Claims

Joint venture proposal

US President Donald Trump suggested the possibility of a US-Iranian joint venture to charge a fee for passage of all vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, according to ABC News journalist Jonathan Karl, as reported by TASS. "We're thinking of doing it as a joint venture. It's a way of securing it - also securing it from lots of other people. It's a beautiful thing," Trump said.

White House opposition

Trump said on April 10 that Iran should not charge fees, writing on Truth Social: "There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait - They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!" White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on April 8 that the US opposes Iran charging fees but that the idea of a joint venture would be discussed in the next two weeks.

IMF on economic impact

IMF Economic Counsellor Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas told a briefing that consumers would "shoulder most of the financial burden" if a fee is introduced. "In an environment in which there is a very inelastic energy supply, I would think the incidence is on the consumers, not on the producers," he said.

Ceasefire context

On April 7, Trump announced a two-week mutual ceasefire with Iran, stating that Washington views Tehran's 10-point proposal as a working basis for negotiations. The proposal includes Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, uranium enrichment within Iran, lifting of sanctions, compensation payments, and withdrawal of US forces from the region.

Iranian law and accounts

Alaeddin Boroujerdi, a member of the Majlis Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy, said the Central Bank of Iran has opened four special accounts in rials, yuan, dollars, and euros to collect fees. A law on the new passage order will be adopted "immediately after the opening of parliament," according to TASS reporting on April 27.

Compensation and inspection

Damage caused to Iran during the conflict in the Persian Gulf will be compensated from a special investment fund, according to Iran's Fars news agency as reported by TASS. Part of the taxes from ships transiting the strait will be spent on restoring facilities destroyed during the conflict. Iran has also said it will inspect any vessel it deems necessary, a claim attributed to Hosseini.

Perspectives

United States

The White House opposes Iran charging fees unilaterally, with Trump issuing a direct warning. However, Trump has also proposed a US-Iranian joint venture for the fee, and White House officials said the idea would be discussed. Washington also stated it would maintain the blockade of Iranian waters until a final agreement is reached.

Iran

Iranian officials have described the fee as part of a plan to monitor the strait during the ceasefire, with Hosseini stating that such monitoring ensures the ceasefire isn't used for transferring weapons. The Supreme Leader's envoy, however, disputed that any formal fee has been imposed, suggesting a lack of internal consensus or official confirmation.

IMF

The IMF cautions that consumers would likely bear the cost of any fee, given the inelastic nature of energy supply.

Corrections

None noted.