A container ship is seen in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Qeshm Island, Iran. Image credit: AP
(The Post News)- As Iran continues its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a senior parliamentary official says Tehran has received its first income from tolls imposed on ships passing through the strategic waterway during the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel.
Deputy speaker of parliament Hamidreza Hajibabaei told Tasnim news agency that “the first revenue received from the Strait of Hormuz tolls was deposited into the Central Bank account.” Other Iranian media also reported the claim, although details about the source of the money were not provided.
Iran Gets First Hormuz Toll Revenue
Tehran says it has received its first revenue from new charges on ships using the Strait of Hormuz, according to a senior parliament official.
Strait of Hormuz Remains War Hotspot
The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy route and has become a serious flashpoint since the Iran war began on February 28, with tensions rising sharply in the region.
Iran Restricts Shipping Amid Tensions
Iran has allowed only limited shipping through the strait, even though the route normally carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas in peacetime.
Before announcing revenue collection, Iran’s parliament had been debating whether to introduce tolls on ships passing through the strait, with officials warning that normal maritime traffic would not return even after the war.
On March 30, Iranian state media reported that parliament’s security commission had approved plans for tolls, although it was not clear if a final vote had taken place.
Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf later said reopening the Strait of Hormuz would be “impossible,” accusing the US and Israel of violating the ceasefire through actions such as a naval blockade and economic disruption.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency also reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps accused two vessels of trying to secretly leave the strait. The ships were identified as the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca and the Liberia-flagged Epaminondas, which is Greek-operated. Greece later confirmed an attack on a Greek-owned cargo ship.
The seizures are the first reported ship takeovers by Iran since the war began on February 28, and followed earlier US actions against Iranian vessels in the region.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump issued mixed signals, warning of possible military action before saying he would extend a ceasefire unilaterally. “I expect to be bombing because I think that’s a better attitude to go in with,” he said in an interview with CNBC.
“We’re ready to go. The military is raring to go,” he added, before later suggesting he would hold off on strikes but continue the blockade.
The ongoing standoff has disrupted global energy supplies and contributed to fuel shortages in several countries.
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