Iran is drafting a toll law for the passage of Hormuz, expected to be finalized next week, which risks impacting global trade.

Iran is drafting legislation to charge fees to ships wishing to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, expected to be finalized next week, risking impacts on global trade.

On March 26, 2026, at 11:41 AM, Bloomberg News reported that the Iranian parliament is drafting a bill to charge fees to ships wishing to safely navigate through the Strait of Hormuz. According to the semi-official news agency Fars, citing unnamed legislators, the plan is expected to be finalized next week and would legalize Iran's authority to regulate the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy shipping route connecting oil and gas producing countries in the Persian Gulf to the world market.

The Strait of Hormuz has been virtually closed since the United States and Israel began their attacks on Iran nearly a month ago, becoming a key strategic point in the war. In recent weeks, only a few ships have been allowed through, mostly those linked to Iran or China, and some escorted by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Iranian law will formalize an already practically existing system, after the shipping industry previously reported that some ships were being informally charged up to $2 million per voyage in tolls. Crew members were required to submit crew, cargo, and route information through intermediaries, and in some cases, pay fees, but the collection was not systematic.

The imposition of tolls while guaranteeing safe passage poses a difficult decision for shipping companies worldwide. They need to help crews and cargo in the Persian Gulf, but must also consider security risks and international sanctions. Meanwhile, the principle of freedom of navigation on such strategically important routes is typically protected under international law.

Marine insurance experts say that ultimately, shipping companies must decide whether to trust Iran, because if tolls are actually imposed, it will impact global trade, as the principle of freedom of navigation has been the foundation of international trade for over 100 years.

The disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz also halted some oil production in the Persian Gulf, refineries in the region were damaged by the war, and it caused global oil prices to surge, with Brent crude prices climbing above $114 per barrel earlier this week.

Reference: bloomberg.com

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