Iran's parliament moves to formalize Hormuz fees and sovereignty — bill would codify IRGC toll-booth regime in law

Iran's parliament is pursuing a bill to formally codify sovereignty, control and oversight over the Strait of Hormuz and to create a legal source of revenue through vessel transit fees, local media citing IRGC-affiliated Fars and Tasnim news agencies reported on 26 March 2026. Lawmaker Mohammadreza Rezaei Kouchi framed the bill as natural: 'This is entirely natural, just as goods pay transit fees when passing through other corridors, the Strait of Hormuz is also a corridor. We provide its security, and it is natural that ships and oil tankers should pay such fees.' Lloyd's List Intelligence published analysis confirming that Iran is already running a de facto toll-booth regime through the IRGC's Hormozgan Provincial Command, requiring ships to provide manifests, crew details and destinations for sanctions screening and geopolitical vetting. Payment is reportedly in yuan. The bill would move this informal enforcement onto a statutory footing, formally challenging the international legal status of the strait as an international waterway open to all shipping. ADNOC CEO Sultan al-Jaber called Iran's chokehold 'economic terrorism against every consumer' in a Washington speech the same day.