Iran to unveil Strait of Hormuz traffic plans, will collect tolls<\/p>\n
Iran has prepared a mechanism to manage traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and plans to collect fees in the waterway, head of the Iranian parliament\u2019s national security committee Ebrahim Azizi said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIran\u2026 has prepared a professional mechanism to manage traffic in the Strait of Hormuz along a designated route,\u201d Azizi said in a social media post, adding that the plan will be \u201cunveiled soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Azizi said \u201cnecessary fees\u201d will be collected under the mechanism, and that only commercial vessels and \u201cparties cooperating with Iran\u201d will \u201cbenefit\u201d from the measure.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis route will remain closed to the operators of the so\u2011called \u201cfreedom project,\u201d Azizi said, likely referring to U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s \u201cProject Freedom,\u201d which was aimed at restoring commercial shipping in Hormuz. Trump had abruptly paused the operation earlier in May.<\/p>\n
Separately, Iranian state TV claimed Tehran was in talks with European countries over the transit of ships in the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
The report said \u201cEuropeans\u201d had begun negotiations with the Revolutionary Guards navy, but did not specify which countries.<\/p>\n
Iran had effectively shut Hormuz since the onset of U.S.-Israeli hostilities in late-February, and has repeatedly hinted at controlling and charging for transit through the passage.<\/p>\n
Reports earlier this year suggested that Iran may also collect tolls for passing through Hormuz in cryptocurrency, specifically Bitcoin.<\/p>\n
U.S. president Trump has balked at any notion of Iran controlling Hormuz, and has repeatedly called for the reopening of the waterway.<\/p>\n
Reports late-Friday showed Trump considering more military measures against Iran. He had warned earlier in the week that the Iran ceasefire was on \u201clife support,\u201d and soundly rejected Iran\u2019s recent peace offer.<\/p>\n
The U.S. president has repeatedly called for Iran to end its nuclear operations, and that the country could not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.<\/p>\n
Hormuz\u2019s closure sparked a sharp increase in global oil and gas prices, given that a fifth of the world\u2019s supply passed through the channel. While some commercial vessels were seen making successful crossings over the past two months, traffic in Hormuz remained at a fraction of pre-war levels.<\/p>\n
Iran has used a mix of missiles, drones, and fast boats to stage attacks in the waterway.<\/p>\n
hellenicshippingnews…<\/p>\n