TLDR
- Iran plans to charge $1 per barrel on loaded oil tankers crossing Hormuz.
- Payments may be required in digital assets such as Bitcoin, according to reports.
- Empty tankers may pass without paying the proposed transit charge.
- Iran says the move will help monitor traffic during the two-week ceasefire.
- Passage decisions are handled by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
Iran is preparing a new transit charge for oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The proposed fee is $1 per barrel. Reports say payment may be made in cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin. The plan comes during a two-week ceasefire involving Iran and the United States.
The measure would apply to fully loaded oil tankers. Empty vessels may be allowed to pass without a fee. Iranian officials say the goal is tighter control over ship movements. The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s key oil routes.
Iran sets out tanker fee plan during ceasefire
Iran plans to assess each vessel that seeks passage through the strait. According to reports, shipping companies must submit cargo details by email. They may then need to settle the transit charge in digital assets. That step would mark an unusual use of crypto in energy trade.
Hamid Hosseini, spokesperson for Iran’s Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union, described the proposal in comments reported by the Financial Times. He said Iran wants to charge oil tankers that pass through the waterway. He also said empty tankers may travel without paying the fee. The proposed rate is about $1 per barrel.
Hosseini said the move is linked to security control during the ceasefire. He was quoted as saying, ”Iran needs to monitor what goes in and out of the strait.” He added that Iran wants to ensure the period is not used for weapons transfers. That statement places the fee within a wider security framework.
Reports also say tanker traffic may be directed to the northerly route near Iran’s coastline. That would give Tehran closer oversight of ship movements. Hosseini said, ”Everything can pass through, but the procedure will take time for each vessel.” He added that Iran is not in a rush.
Strait of Hormuz remains under close watch
The Strait of Hormuz is vital for global oil shipments. Any new cost or delay can draw attention from energy markets and shipping firms. Iran’s proposed charge comes as the route stays under heavy regional scrutiny. Ship operators are watching for new instructions and security notices.
According to reports, the final decision on vessel passage rests with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. That means each transit request may face official review. Shipping companies may need approval before entering the route. This could slow traffic, even if the waterway stays open.
The Indian Express reported that a radio message was received by tankers in the Gulf on Wednesday. The message warned vessels against entering without prior approval. It allegedly said ships could face military strikes. That warning raised concern across the shipping sector.
Separate shipping sources cited by The Guardian said the Iranian navy stated that passage through the strait remained shut. A reported message said, ”Any vessel trying to travel into the sea…will be targeted and destroyed.” Those reports have added to uncertainty around tanker movement. However, the situation appears tied to fast-moving ceasefire conditions.
Crypto payment demand adds new layer for shippers
The reported use of cryptocurrency is one of the most striking parts of the plan. Iran is said to prefer payment in digital assets such as Bitcoin. That could create new compliance and payment questions for shipping companies. It also links a strategic trade route to crypto settlement.
For tanker operators, the issue is not only the fee amount. The process may also matter. If companies must send cargo details, await approval, and pay in crypto, transit could become more complex. Delays may follow, especially during a fragile ceasefire period.
The plan follows a reported two-week ceasefire deal between Iran and the United States. The reports say the agreement came after rising military pressure in the region. The current proposal shows that maritime control remains central to Tehran’s approach. It also shows that the Strait of Hormuz remains at the center of global energy risk
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