Iran parliament approves bill to charge fees for ships in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's parliament has advanced a bill that would impose fees on vessels passing through the critical Strait of Hormuz. The proposal, approved by the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, aims to generate revenue by charging ships for services provided during transit.

The legislation specifies that ships from countries permitted to use the strait will be subject to these new charges. The fees are intended to cover environmental services, fuel provision, insurance, and security measures. This initiative reflects Iran's strategy to leverage its control over a vital global shipping lane.

This development follows previous statements from Tehran regarding the strait's accessibility. Iran had previously outlined six conditions for opening the Strait of Hormuz, with senior officials linking its passage to changes in U.S. policy. The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, indicated that the strait would remain closed until the U.S. altered its conduct.