Iran Imposes Fees on Ships Passing Through Strait of Hormuz

The operator of an oil tanker stuck in the Persian Gulf received a proposal to sail safely out through the Strait of Hormuz escorted by the Iranian Navy if it changed its registration and raised the flag of Pakistan. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is exerting control over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, extracting tolls from vessels passing through and giving preferential treatment to ships from countries it deems friendly. Ship operators have to contact an intermediary company linked to the IRGC and provide information about their vessel to negotiate a toll, which typically starts at around $1 per barrel of oil, and receive a permit code and route instructions to safely pass through the strait. Introducing crypto/yuan Hormuz fees are a tactical win for Iran (revenue + sanctions bypass) and a symbolic step toward a less dollar-centric world. They won’t crash the USD overnight, but they reinforce the slow erosion of petrodollar hegemony and give crypto and the yuan tangible new roles in global energy trade. Markets reacted bullishly to de-escalation (crypto and equities up, oil down), but sustainability depends on whether the ceasefire holds and whether fees become permanent. #fees

🇮🇷Iran’s IRGC Now Asking For Cryptocurrency-Based Transit Fees for Strait of Hormuz Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has begun implementing a structured payment and permitting system for merchant vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by Bloomberg. Under the system, shipowners are required to submit transit applications through intermediaries linked to the IRGC. These applications include vessel details and national affiliations, after which they are reviewed by regional IRGC naval units. The review process is intended to screen for potential links to states considered hostile, including the United States and Israel. Once cleared, vessels are subject to a tiered pricing structure, with rates reportedly varying based on nationality and other commercial considerations. Payments are conducted in cryptocurrency or Chinese yuan, a move seen as an effort to bypass the U.S.-dominated financial system. Industry sources cited in the report indicate a baseline cost of approximately $1 per barrel for tankers, or around $2 million for very large crude carriers (VLCCs). Following payment, vessels are issued a single-use transit code. Ships are then required to proceed to a designated checkpoint between Qeshm and Larak, where the code is transmitted before receiving an Iranian security escort for passage into the Gulf of Oman. The report also indicates that certain countries have negotiated preferential terms, including fee exemptions and allocated transit slots. Pakistan has reportedly secured additional passage allowances beyond its immediate needs, while China has confirmed arrangements for multiple vessels through diplomatic channels. Despite the introduction of this system, traffic through the strait remains significantly below normal levels. Data from maritime consultancies suggest that only a limited number of vessels are currently transiting each day. Meanwhile, a substantial backlog persists, with more than 320 tankers and gas carriers, along with nearly 2,000 other commercial vessels, still awaiting passage within the Arabian Gulf. #Iran #Crypto #StraitOfHormuz

Incredible detail from the BBG team “If a vessel makes the cut then discussions over the toll begin. The people said that the Iranians have a ranking system of one to five for nations, with ships from countries that are seen as friendly more likely to get better terms. For oil tankers, the starting price in the negotiations is typically around $1 per barrel of oil, paid in yuan, or stablecoins — cryptocurrencies pegged to the value of hard currency.”

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime route through which about 20 percent of global seaborne crude oil and liquefied natural gas volumes pass. Recently, Iran has established what amounts to a formalized toll system at the strait, accepting Chinese yuan and cryptocurrencies, specifically stablecoins, as payment for naval escort through the waterway. This system, administered through an intermediary linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), requires ship operators to submit documentation for geopolitical vetting before receiving passage. https://lnkd.in/gMrumGrQ

𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐔𝐒 𝐈𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐝𝐞 Following the US announcement of a naval blockade on Iran, we’re now seeing the first real test of enforcement. What’s new: - A US-sanctioned, China-linked tanker has moved through the Strait of Hormuz - The vessel had initially turned back, then attempted transit again within hours - Another tanker is also suspected of leaving an Iranian port as the blockade began - Shipping markets remain paused, waiting for clarity on US enforcement How the US responds to this transit will likely set the precedent for global shipping, energy flows, and market confidence in the days ahead. Markets are now moving from uncertainty → reaction. For businesses exposed to FX, this is where volatility can accelerate, especially across energy-linked currencies. Staying reactive is risky. Planning ahead is what protects margins. Source: Bloomberg

JUST IN: The IRGC Navy just added a second lock to the gate. Hours after the ceasefire was supposed to reopen Hormuz, the IRGC issued an official directive requiring all commercial vessels to use two alternative corridors near Larak Island to avoid sea mines deployed during the war. Inbound traffic north of Larak. Outbound traffic south of Larak. All ships must coordinate with the IRGC Navy before entering. Until further notice. The mines are real. Iran laid them during the February to April campaign as a defensive measure against the US Fifth Fleet. They are in the standard shipping lanes. The alternative routes bypass the minefields but funnel every vessel through a narrow channel inside Iranian territorial waters, past the same Larak Island where the IRGC toll booth already operates and the patrol boats already escort ships one at a time after verifying clearance codes paid for in yuan or cryptocurrency. This is not a safety measure. It is infrastructure. The mines create the problem. The alternative routes create the solution. The solution requires coordination with the IRGC. The coordination requires toll payment. The toll requires yuan. Each layer reinforces the previous one until the Strait of Hormuz is no longer a waterway governed by international maritime law but a managed corridor operated by a theocratic military force collecting revenue in a currency that is not the dollar.

# Ceasefire announced. Supply chains still not normal. From ARS Liners perspective—this is not stability, it’s a pause. Strait of Hormuz is open, but: • War risk premiums remain • Delays (7–14 days) continue • Congestion & high freight rates persist Market reality: Geopolitical calm ≠ supply chain recovery. There’s always a lag. My advice: • Don’t wait for rates to drop • Secure space now • Plan alternative routes • Build buffer in your supply chain At ARS Liners, we’re helping clients stay ahead in volatile markets. 📩 connect to us via email. ceo@arsliners.com Sales@arsliners.com | #ARSLiners #Shipping #NVOCC #SupplyChain #Logistics # Maritime Analytica

🔥Breaking: Ceasefire Reopens Hormuz, Uncertainty Remains - US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire. - Strait of Hormuz reopens, but under conditional coordination. - Iran says transits require oversight by its armed forces. - Shipping operators still lack a clear operational framework. - Gulf traffic may resume gradually, not immediately or fully. - Carriers remain cautious despite political progress and lower oil. - Hundreds of vessels and thousands of seafarers remain stranded. -🧭Maritime Analytica: "Hormuz is reopening politically, not operationally. The decisive signal will be whether neutral, repeatable, insurable transits resume at scale. Until then, carriers should prioritise exit flows, limit re-entry, and price volatility structurally." 💡For more details, read our today's post: https://lnkd.in/dSbwWPt9 🌟 Stay ahead with daily maritime intelligence 👉 https://lnkd.in/dYGxPjx5 🎖️ Access the Global Container Shipping Outlook 2026👉https://lnkd.in/dwtB5Xx4 💫 Showcase your brand to 200,000+ maritime professionals 👉 https://lnkd.in/drfBNxeB #ContainerShipping #ShippingNews #GlobalTrade #FreightMarket #MaritimeInnovation #SmartShipping #Logistics #OceanFreight #MaritimeAI #MaritimeAnalytica

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains highly restricted despite the ceasefire, with limited transits and a backlog of nearly 1,000 vessels in the Gulf. Access is being tightly managed through approvals, coordination, and potential tolls, adding to ongoing uncertainty for global shipping flows. https://okt.to/Dyli5o

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains highly restricted despite the ceasefire, with limited transits and a backlog of nearly 1,000 vessels in the Gulf. Access is being tightly managed through approvals, coordination, and potential tolls, adding to ongoing uncertainty for global shipping flows. https://okt.to/rjkqRN