Iran will “absolutely” keep charging countries and vessels a fee for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Iranian official said, referring to the vital waterway that Iran has effectively closed to global shipping.
“A series of measures is in place for passage through the Strait of Hormuz due to the war situation imposed on Iran,” said Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, in an interview with India Today on Tuesday night.
His comments came after Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a letter to the UN Security Council and the International Maritime Organization saying that “non-hostile vessels” may transit the Strait of Hormuz if they coordinate with Iranian authorities, Reuters reported.
Traffic through the strait, through which a fifth of the world’s oil output normally flows, has been severely curtailed since the start of the conflict three weeks ago. CNN previously reported that Tehran was considering allowing some vessels to pass through the strait, provided the cargo was traded in Chinese yuan.
At least two vessels transiting the strait are understood to have paid in exchange for safe passage, according to a report from Lloyd’s List Intelligence, which added that one fee was reportedly $2 million. CNN cannot independently verify the report.
