Iranian parliament considers charging ships passing through Strait of Hormuz

The Iranian parliament is reportedly preparing a law to impose fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Fars news agency.

The head of the parliament’s Civil Affairs Committee said the plan aims to legally recognise Iran’s sovereignty and control over the strait, while also generating revenue for the country.

He added that a draft bill has been prepared but is not yet final. It is expected to be ready for submission to the parliament’s research centre next week, after which the legal team will complete the plan before it is formally considered in parliament sessions.

The committee head stressed that Iran should collect fees to ensure the safety of ships passing through the strait. He described the measure as “completely normal,” noting that in other countries, goods passing through their territory are also subject to fees.

He concluded: “When goods pass through a country, fees are paid. The Strait of Hormuz is also a passage. We ensure its security, so it is natural for ships and oil tankers to pay fees.”

READ: Strait of Hormuz situation ‘will not return to the past,’ Iran says amid escalating Mideast tensions