The main channel of the Strait of Hormuz is blocked; ships are rerouting in batches to Iran's Larak Island for "toll passage."

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With the main shipping channel of the world’s most important oil route—the Strait of Hormuz—blocked, oil tankers are diverting en masse to seek safe passage via Iran-controlled Larak Island. Meanwhile, the Iranian parliament is accelerating legislation to provide institutional backing for this “toll” arrangement.

According to CCTV News, on March 31 the Iranian parliamentary National Security Committee passed a bill to charge ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The plan is to establish a financial structure and toll system in the local currency Rial, and it explicitly prohibits passage for U.S. and Israeli ships as well as vessels from countries enforcing unilateral sanctions on Iran. CNBC reports that, at the same time, oil tankers are already rerouting near Larak Island in exchange for safe passage, making a de facto “toll station” operational.

These developments have a direct impact on the global energy supply chain. The toll mechanism will drive up the logistics costs of transporting crude oil and liquefied natural gas via this route. The prohibition on ships from sanctioned countries will further force Western shipping companies to balance compliance requirements with route efficiency, thus intensifying uncertainty on the supply side of energy.

Parliamentary Legislation: Toll System Accelerates Institutionalization

According to CCTV News on March 31, the Iranian parliamentary National Security Committee has passed a bill proposing to levy transit fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

The bill stipulates that the tolls will be collected in Iranian Rials, though specific financial arrangements and toll system details remain to be clarified.

Regarding the prohibition rules, the bill sets several layers of restrictions: U.S. and Israeli ships are explicitly excluded from passage; vessels from countries imposing unilateral sanctions on Iran are also banned. The bill also explicitly states that Iran and its armed forces will maintain dominance over the Strait of Hormuz.

For the implementation mechanism, Iran will work with Oman to develop a joint legal framework to seek multilateral support for this toll system.

Rerouting to Larak Island: “Pay-to-Pass”

According to CNBC, amid instability in the main channel, oil tankers have started rerouting en masse to the waters near Iran’s Larak Island for safe passage.

Larak Island is located in Iranian-controlled waters near the Strait of Hormuz. Thanks to its geographic advantage, Iran is able to exercise de facto control over transit for rerouted ships.

This pattern suggests that some shipping companies have, at the operational level, already chosen to accept Iran’s transit arrangements.

As the legislative process progresses, this “pay-for-passage” system is moving from informal practice toward formalized rules.

Market Impact: Cost, Compliance, and Supply Chain Risks Overlap

The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most crucial crude oil export route, with large volumes of oil and liquefied natural gas transported daily to key global markets. Once the toll mechanism is officially implemented, it will affect the energy market on multiple dimensions.

Logistics costs will rise. The introduction of transit fees will directly push up the overall cost of transporting crude oil via this route, and the related expenses may be passed on to end-energy prices downstream.

Western shipping companies face compliance dilemmas. The provision prohibiting ships from sanctioned countries will effectively restrict many Western shipping firms, which will have to choose between complying with sanctions and maintaining route efficiency—this dilemma will generate additional compliance and operational costs.

Supply chain uncertainty will intensify. The blockage of the main channel, combined with the uncertainty regarding the pace of new rule implementation, will amplify risks of disruption on the energy supply side, potentially exerting upward pressure on crude oil prices.

The bill is still advancing through the legislative process. Whether it will complete all procedures and be implemented remains to be seen.

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