Tehran: Iran is considering levying transit fees on ships using the strategic Hormuz Strait, with charges that could go up to Rs 18.50 crore for each passage by an oil tanker.
The move comes as the key global oil shipping route has been disrupted amid the US-Iran war, triggering a worldwide crude shortage and pushing up petrol, diesel and gas prices.
US President Donald Trump has said the Hormuz Strait should be seized to curb the price surge, and has called on Asian and European countries to join the effort.
Against this backdrop, Iran— which manages the strait— is looking to turn the global supply crunch to its advantage. An Iranian lawmaker said Parliament is considering a bill to create a mechanism for countries using the strait for fuel and food shipments to pay fees to Iran.
If Iran begins charging for access to the Hormuz Strait, analysts expect global crude prices to rise further, given the route’s importance to Gulf oil exports.
