Iran Says Strait of Hormuz Won't Have 'Tolls' but It Will Have 'Fees' [View all]
Source: NYT
Though President Trump declared on Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen and be “permanently toll-free,” Iran indicated on Monday that it intended to charge fees for unspecified services in the strait.
The net effect — paying for passage through the vital waterway for global energy supplies, which was not required before the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran — could add expense and complications for commercial shipping in the waterway, and set a dangerous precedent for shipping in international waters worldwide.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, said on Monday that Iran was “not seeking to levy transit tolls; however, fees will be charged in exchange for the services that are provided.” But there was little indication of what services Iran would be providing. Iranian officials have said they might assess environmental charges.
Legally speaking, there is a distinction between a toll — a payment for passage — and fees for actual services rendered, for example providing waste services at a port. Fees can be legal in certain contexts but a toll in the Strait of Hormuz would not be, maritime law experts say, and requiring payment for ships to use a waterway that has long been free would not be rendered legal simply by calling it a fee.
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/15/world/middleeast/shipping-fees-tolls-strait-hormuz.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share
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