Iran Proposes Law to Charge Rial Tolls in Hormuz Strait

The Government of Iran is drafting an 11-article motion to formally establish its armed forces as the authority responsible for managing the Strait of Hormuz. Inspired by a directive from Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the proposed law seeks to prohibit the passage of vessels deemed hostile, including a total ban on ships owned by or linked to Israel.

A central component of the legislation is the requirement that all financial proceeds and transit tolls be paid in Iranian rials. Iranian authorities intend to use these tolls to seek compensation for economic damages caused by sanctions, sabotage, and frozen assets. Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, noted that the military already controls the waterway.

This move follows a period of high tension starting in February 2026, when a joint U.S.-Israeli offensive led Iran to restrict energy transit, causing global commodity prices to surge. While a Pakistani-mediated ceasefire ended those hostilities in early April, Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref stated that Western nations are now attempting to persuade Iran to ease transit restrictions. Aref characterized this shift as a move from a state of vulnerability to a position of authority in supplying global energy needs.