President Donald Trump revealed Thursday that Iran allowed the passage of multiple oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as a 'present' and evidence of progress in ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. Trump stated that Iran initially offered eight boats of oil, later increasing the number to ten, and framed this gesture as a sign that U.S. negotiators are in contact with credible figures inside the Iranian regime, despite uncertainty over who is currently in control in Tehran following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed dozens of senior officials and the country's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, remaining out of public view [1].
However, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz has become increasingly complex. Iran is now forcing oil tankers to take a new route through a narrow passage controlled by its Revolutionary Guard, with some ships reportedly charged millions of dollars to transit. This system, referred to as the 'Tehran toll booth' by shipping industry experts, demonstrates Iran's continued control over the critical waterway despite recent strikes. Maritime data from Lloyd’s List Intelligence shows that daily ship traffic through the strait has dropped from around 110 ships before the bombing campaign on February 28 to fewer than 10 per day. At least 25 vessels have taken the new route since March 13, including the Chinese tanker Bright Gold, which made the voyage on March 23 [2].
Iranian state media reported that the country's parliament is preparing legislation to formalize the toll, with lawmaker Mohammadreza Rezaei Kouchi stating, 'We provide its security, and it is natural that ships and oil tankers should pay such fees.' Jasem Mohamed al-Budaiwi of the Gulf Cooperation Council confirmed that Iran is officially charging for safe passage through the channel, which is crucial to the world’s energy supply. Lloyd’s List was aware of at least two ships that had made payment in Chinese yuan, though a consistent policy has not yet been established [2].
Amid these developments, uncertainty persists regarding Iran's leadership and negotiating partners. While Trump and U.S. officials point to ongoing discussions, Iranian leaders have publicly denied negotiations are taking place, though they acknowledge receiving U.S. messages through intermediaries. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has been mentioned as a possible interlocutor in backchannel talks, but both he and Iranian officials deny any talks with Washington. The conflicting signals highlight the challenge for U.S. negotiators in identifying credible interlocutors who can represent Tehran and implement any potential agreement [1].
CONCLUSION
Iran's imposition of a 'Tehran toll booth' for oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, combined with drastically reduced shipping traffic and ongoing leadership uncertainty, signals significant disruption to global energy flows. The conflicting reports on negotiations and the formalization of transit fees suggest heightened geopolitical risk and market volatility. The situation remains fluid, with both the U.S. and Iran sending mixed signals about future diplomatic engagement.