Strait of Hormuz Turmoil Resurfaces: Iran Accused of Seeking $40 Billion a Year in "Tolls," Evacuation Suspended After Vessel Attack

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The situation in the Strait of Hormuz has rapidly deteriorated. As various parties strive to reopen this critical global energy corridor, Iran is reported to be actively lobbying for support to impose service fees on transiting vessels. U.S. Secretary of State Rubio has strongly refuted the plan, and a cargo ship was attacked by an unidentified projectile in the Gulf of Oman. The International Maritime Organization immediately announced the suspension of evacuation operations for detained ships, casting a shadow over the prospects of resuming navigation.

According to Xinhua, citing The Wall Street Journal’s report on Thursday, sources said Iran estimates that imposing security and environmental service fees in the Strait of Hormuz could generate $40 billion annually for the relevant countries.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Kalibaf, considered the chief negotiator for Iran in the U.S.-Iran talks, stated during his visit to Oman: “Everyone must know that the management of the (Hormuz) Strait will never return to its pre-war state.” This statement has caused alarm in the international community.

Secretary of State Rubio immediately responded after visiting Gulf countries. In Bahrain, he declared that any form of tolls in the Strait of Hormuz “will never be an acceptable condition for any agreement” and warned that if implemented, the practice could spread like a virus to other waterways worldwide and create chaos.

According to Xinhua, the International Maritime Organization, the UN shipping regulator, announced on Thursday that a vessel was attacked in the Gulf of Oman that day, and the organization decided to suspend evacuation operations for ships detained in the Strait of Hormuz to further verify whether safety measures are still effective.

After news broke of the ship attack, international crude oil futures turned upward in Thursday’s trading. Brent crude, which had fallen below $73 to its lowest since the outbreak of the U.S.-Iran conflict, rebounded to around $75, rising up to 1.6% during the day. U.S. WTI crude rose about 2% at one point.

Iran Reportedly Lobbies Regional Countries to Support Strait Transit Fee Plan

The Wall Street Journal has learned that Iran is actively lobbying not only Middle Eastern but also friendly Asian nations to support its strait toll plan. Iran’s idea is to jointly charge ships passing through with neighboring Persian Gulf countries and share the revenues, giving Tehran a cash flow and regulatory power it lacked before the conflict.

For reference models, Iran is looking at the Dardanelles. Under an international treaty signed in 1936, Turkey has the right to charge a “gold franc” transit tax on passing ships—from July 1 this year, the rate is $6.70 per ton, covering sanitation services, lighthouses, and lifesaving facilities.

Iran is also studying the multilateral security patrol model of the Strait of Malacca, jointly organized by Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, with costs sponsored by Asian countries and a Japanese private foundation.

However, Iran’s plan faces legal obstacles. James Kraska, a maritime law professor at the U.S. Naval War College, said Iran has signed multiple international and regional agreements prohibiting unilateral fees on passing ships. Turkey’s arrangement is unique and cannot be automatically applied elsewhere.

The Wall Street Journal cited insiders indicating that for Iran to impose any service fee on ships passing through the strait, it would need consensus from all 176 member countries of the International Maritime Organization.

Additionally, Iran has established an insurance company and claims that passing ships must use its insurance services to transit, warning that crossing outside its designated routes is "extremely dangerous and forbidden."

Rubio Firmly Rejects Plan, Gulf Allies United

Rubio's trip to the Gulf is his first visit since taking office as Secretary of State, and the first since the U.S.-Iran signed a temporary ceasefire agreement, with the purpose to reassure allies skeptical of the agreement.

At the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) meeting in Bahrain, Rubio adopted a tough tone. He stated that regardless of whether the fees are termed "tolls" or "service fees," it is merely wordplay. “No country has any right to charge for the use of international waterways. This will never be an acceptable condition for any agreement.”

Rubio also revealed that Oman made it clear in the meeting that it does not support these fees, and the U.S. and the GCC stated in their joint statement that they "reject any tolls, fees, or attempts to control the strait."

Reports indicate Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar have previously opposed Iran’s fee proposal. UAE Presidential Adviser Anwar Gargash stated on Thursday that new geopolitical realities in the Strait of Hormuz and elsewhere cannot be imposed on Arabian Gulf countries.

Some large shipowners reportedly consider the fees a necessary price for reopening routes, but this stance clearly differs from the official positions of the United States and Gulf countries. Trump previously commented on social media that if the final agreement includes service fees or shipping charges, it would be a “game changer,” and he would not accept it.

Cargo Ship Attacked, Several Merchant Ships Turn Back, IMO Halts Evacuations

Amid ongoing diplomatic maneuvering, the actual navigation situation in the Strait of Hormuz has become increasingly chaotic.

Bloomberg reported that earlier Thursday, at least three merchant ships—including two supertankers—turned back while trying to leave via the Omani side. Shipping intelligence company Windward Maritime said the return was triggered after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps called on ships by radio and social media to turn around. Vessel tracking data showed that not all nearby ships at the time returned; some continued to depart.

A few hours later, an unidentified cargo ship, sailing southeast of Oman’s coast, was hit by an unknown projectile, damaging the bridge, but with no casualties. The UK Royal Navy’s UKMTO, which coordinates commercial shipping and military affairs, issued a bulletin advising ships to “navigate with caution.”

According to Xinhua citing the International Maritime Organization, given the attack, the IMO decided to suspend evacuation operations for ships detained in the Strait of Hormuz to further confirm if safety measures remain effective. Just two days prior, the UN shipping regulator had announced guaranteed safe passage through the strait. Bloomberg reported the IMO’s scheduled Thursday press briefing was suddenly cancelled minutes before it began, citing “urgent matters.”

Following the temporary peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran last week, transit volumes through the Hormuz Strait quickly rose. Vessel tracking showed 70 crossings on Wednesday, the highest since the conflict erupted; pre-war figures were about 130 oil tankers daily. Though vessel insurance rates near the strait recently fell sharply to near pre-war levels, some shipping companies reported they remain cautious about transit risks until a final deal is reached.

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