Iranian lawmakers claim the country has started depositing revenue from its toll on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, and that it is “in control” of the crucial waterway.
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❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Iranian lawmakers claim the country has started depositing toll revenue collected from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz into the state central bank. Hamidreza Hajibabaei, Deputy Speaker of the Iranian parliament, claimed on Thursday, “We have control over this Strait,” adding: “We are not engaged in negotiations—rather, we are making demands.”
📺 DETAIL: The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for the global oil and fertilizer trade, and has been blockaded by Iran since the onset of hostilities with the U.S. and Israel in late February. While the waterway is supposed to be open as a condition of the recently extended ceasefire with the U.S., Iran is attempting to extract toll revenue from ships as a condition of passage, with Iranian lawmaker Alireza Salimi saying on Thursday, “The amount collected from each ship depends on its cargo and level of risk they pose. Iran determines how much and how these fees are collected, in other words, we determine the rules.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We have control over this Strait. If the United States continues on its current course, no vessels will pass through the Strait of Hormuz.” – Hamidreza Hajibabaei
🎯 IMPACT: Obstruction in the Strait of Hormuz has driven oil prices above $100 per barrel, straining global energy markets and raising gas prices in the United States. Notably, while the reliability of Iranian claims about toll collections, often made via state and state-aligned media, is in question, reports do indicate that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been laying mines in the strait this week, prompting President Donald J. Trump to order the U.S. Navy to “shoot and kill” any boats found to be engaged in such activities. The U.S. is also maintaining a retaliatory blockade against Iranian ships in the region.
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