With the Strait of Hormuz largely blocked, impacting the world economy, Iran’s parliament is preparing to pass a law that would impose fees on ships for “safe passage” through the waterway, according to Iranian media.
Citing a member of the parliament’s economic committee, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported Saturday that a bill has been prepared to charge vessels transiting the strategic strait.
Saeed Rahmatzadeh said imposing fees on maritime passage through straits is “a common practice in many important sea lanes around the world”, Anadolu Ajansi quoted the report as saying.
He added that the measure could help boost Iran’s revenues and improve maritime security and services along the route.
On March 2, Iran announced restrictions on navigation in the strait, warning that it could target ships trying to go through without coordination, in response to ongoing US-Israeli attacks.
Around 20 million barrels of oil pass daily through the strait, making it one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints. The current disruption has already driven up shipping and insurance costs and raised global economic concerns.
On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had supported other countries in ensuring transit through the strait, adding that safe passage could be achieved if states such as Japan coordinate with Iran.
The US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on Feb 28, with Tehran retaliating with repeated drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump threatened Saturday to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants, starting with the largest, if Tehran did not open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.
“If Iran doesn’t fully open, without threat, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 hours from this exact point in time, the US will hit and obliterate their various power plants, starting with the biggest one first,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, Anadolu Ajansi reported.
He posted the threat at 7.44pm US Eastern Time, meaning the deadline expires on late Monday.
He did not specify which plant he was referring to as the largest.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that Iran would show “zero restraint” if its infrastructure came under attack.
Trump previously told PBS he deliberately avoided targeting power plants in Tehran because it would cause years of damage and “trauma” to the civilian population. The threat marks a significant escalation in his rhetoric.
The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed since early March, pushing oil prices higher.
The US-Israeli strikes on Iran began Feb 28 and have escalated into a broader regional conflict.
- Bernama
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