Iran Plans Fees for Ships in Hormuz Strait

Iran is looking at a new plan that would charge ships for using the Strait of Hormuz, a move that could turn the narrow waterway into a source of revenue for Tehran. The idea comes as Iran has already been stopping vessels it says are linked to its enemies from passing through the strait since the start of the conflict with the United States and Israel. A lawmaker told a parliament meeting that the proposed bill would require any country that ships through the strait—whether for oil, gas or food supplies—to pay tolls and taxes to Iran.An adviser to the country’s supreme leader said that once the war ends, a “new regime” for the strait would be in place. This new system would let Tehran impose restrictions on nations that have imposed sanctions on it. The adviser also explained that Iran could use its control of the strait to block western ships from passing, effectively using the waterway as a tool for sanctions. These moves could change how global trade flows through one of the world’s most important shipping lanes, which carries about a fifth of all oil and liquefied natural gas.