New Hormuz Fee Plan Puts Iran at Center of Oil Trade Worries

Iran is preparing to launch a paid traffic-control regime in the Strait of Hormuz that will favor commercial ships willing to work with Tehran while shutting out operators tied to the so-called Freedom Project. The proposal, unveiled by parliament’s national security committee chief Ebrahim Azizi, marks the Islamic Republic’s latest attempt to assert control over one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints. Under the plan, vessels will follow strictly defined routes and pay for specialized services such as escort, pilotage, and security coordination. Tehran says the fees will help cover costs and guarantee safety, yet critics see them as a potential tool for political leverage against countries that have allowed U.S. forces greater access in the region. The timing is significant. Just days earlier, senior adviser Mohammad Mokhber issued unusually blunt warnings to Kuwait and the UAE, claiming Tehran’s patience is wearing thin after those nations opened their soil to Iran’s adversaries. The remarks have heightened concerns that any future clash could spill directly into shipping lanes. Oil analysts note that even limited disruptions could push Brent crude higher, given that nearly 21 million barrels transit the strait daily. Markets are already pricing in a growing risk premium, and the new fee structure could add another unpredictable variable. Tehran maintains the system is defensive, but its selective access rules and service charges leave little doubt that politics and commerce are now tightly intertwined in the narrow waters between Iran and Oman.