Iran is considering charging transit fees on vessels passing through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz as tensions in West Asia continue to rise.
Iran’s parliamentary National Security Commission has reportedly approved a bill requiring ships to pay fees in Iranian rials and restricting passage for vessels linked to the United States and Israel, as well as countries that have imposed unilateral sanctions on Tehran.
The measure is not yet in effect. It still requires approval from Iran’s full Parliament, the Guardian Council and the Iranian president before becoming law.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has again shared a map describing the strategic waterway as “new American territory,” adding to tensions surrounding one of the world’s most important shipping routes.
