Iran parliamentary committee approves Hormuz tolls bill — would ban US and Israeli ships, charge all others

Iran's parliamentary committee approved a plan to impose tolls on ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz and ban transit by American and Israeli ships, Fars semiofficial news agency reported on Monday. The bill requires approval by the full Parliament before becoming law. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the proposed tolls illegal, noting the strait is considered an international waterway. The legislation would formalize Iran's de facto closure and selective-passage system into domestic law — creating a legal framework for the toll regime Iran has been enforcing informally since the conflict began. Iran has maintained a partial Hormuz closure with selective passage for favored nations (notably China, which transited COSCO ships on March 31), while blocking or threatening Western commercial traffic. Trump said Iran agreed to allow 20 ships per day 'out of respect.' A formal toll bill would set Iran's Hormuz leverage on a legal footing, complicate future international legal challenges, and potentially generate revenue from the closure. The COSCO transit (March 31) and this toll bill together signal Iran building a structured Hormuz governance system aligned with non-Western partners.