Tanker operators worldwide are being advised to reject Iran's demands for transit fees through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, despite a recent ceasefire agreement that was supposed to reopen the critical waterway.
A Tuesday ceasefire intended to restore shipping traffic has failed to materialize, with Iran now suggesting vessels must seek permission or risk being "targeted and destroyed." Iranian authorities have indicated they may levy fees in exchange for safe passage through the strait, which carries approximately one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies.
"We do not believe the payment of tolls is the right way to go about this," said Phillip Belcher of Intertanko, an organization representing 190 independent tanker operators and more than half of the world's oil tanker fleet. "We are amazed that this appears to be one of the starting points of negotiations."
Belcher emphasized that charging transit fees violates international laws governing free passage through international waterways. He noted that the Strait of Hormuz currently operates under "the de facto rule of the Iranian military," specifically referencing the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which the United States and European Union have designated as a terrorist organization.
"The IRGC is a designated terrorist organization and so the payment of monies to a terrorist organization should be avoided," Belcher stated.
Shipping traffic through the strait has dwindled dramatically since the conflict began. Only 15 vessels have transited since Tuesday, compared to an average of nearly 140 daily before hostilities erupted. Approximately 800 ships remain stranded in the Gulf, most carrying valuable cargo.
International Maritime Organization Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez reinforced the principle of freedom of navigation, telling the BBC that "international straits in accordance with international law are actually for the use of everyone and that's why no toll restrictions should be imposed."
Some reports suggest Tehran's proposed toll could reach $2 million per vessel, with proceeds potentially shared between Iran and Oman, the two nations bordering the strait. The prolonged blockage threatens global supplies of oil, gas, and fertilizer, with anticipated ripple effects on fuel, electricity, food, and medicine prices worldwide.
Erik Hanell, CEO of Swedish tanker firm Stena Bulk, expressed caution about resuming operations through the disputed waterway.
"We need safety guarantees," Hanell said. "Longer term, paying fees to travel through the Strait of Hormuz would be like paying fees to use the English Channel. That's not a world we would like to continue with."
Hanell confirmed his company has no direct contact with Iranian authorities and would not pay tolls "as a standalone company" without official guidance.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to meet with Iranian representatives in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday to negotiate ceasefire details, though the agreement appears increasingly fragile amid continued air strikes in Israel and Lebanon and the ongoing shipping impasse.
Intertanko continues advising members to avoid the strait entirely, warning that "an attack could take place at any time" until a lasting cessation of conflict is achieved and coalition oversight replaces Iranian sovereignty claims over the critical passage.