Iran has discussed plans with Middle Eastern neighbors and China to establish permanent tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Wall Street Journal reporting.
According to reports by the Wall Street Journal, Iranian officials estimate charges for security, safety, and environmental services could generate $40 billion annually for participating states. The scheme represents a dramatic reversal of pre-war conditions, with Iran now controlling the global shipping chokepoint it effectively seized when the war began.
Iran's chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, declared during a visit to Oman, "management of the strait will never return to the way it was before."
Ship crossings have declined significantly, with 70 crossings on Wednesday compared to 130 oil tankers daily before the war.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio opposed the toll idea during a Middle East trip, calling it an unacceptable precedent that would "spread like a contagion."
However, a 60-day ceasefire deal gives Iran control of demining and a say in future strait management.
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