According to informed sources, Tehran is demanding payments that can reach up to two million dollars per trip, on an irregular basis and with special arrangements for each case, which effectively creates an unofficial tariff system on this vital artery. Some vessels have complied with the payment, despite the obscurity of the payment mechanism, including the currency used, and the lack of a unified or announced framework for these procedures. Iran has begun imposing transit fees on some commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, another indicator of Tehran's control over the world's most vital waterway for energy transport. This adds a new dimension to the rising geopolitical tensions in the region. This step highlights Iranian influence in the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of global oil supplies pass.
