According to Fixygen, Iran is seeking to include a payment mechanism for ships passing through this key energy route in future agreements regarding the Strait of Hormuz. The Financial Times reported that Tehran wants to charge fees to loaded oil tankers, and, according to the publication, the Iranian Union of Oil Exporters insists on payments in cryptocurrency.
However, an independent review shows that the parameters of such a mechanism remain unclear. Reuters, citing a senior Iranian official, reports that Iran does indeed intend to charge a fee for passage through the strait as part of a potential peace agreement; however, according to this information, the fee amount is expected to vary depending on the type of vessel, the nature of the cargo, and other conditions.
Reports of preparations for a protocol with Oman, which may provide for permits and licenses for passage through the strait, serve as an additional indication that Tehran is already attempting to institutionalize control over the passage.
About one-fifth of global oil supplies pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, oil prices fell sharply, but market participants continue to factor in the risk that even if shipping resumes, Iran will attempt to maintain economic and political control over the route through new fees and restrictions.
