Foreign media reported that Iran, under a truce deal with the United States, will open the Strait of Hormuz but limit daily transiting ships to a maximum of 15.
Russia's state-run Tass news agency reported on the 8th (local time), citing a senior Iranian source, that "the movement of all vessels is conditionally permitted, subject to approval by Iranian authorities and the implementation of specific protocols."
The transit protocol appears to refer to the use of an alternative route disclosed the day before and a policy of control by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran's elite military organization. The alternative route they proposed includes using an alternative passage near Larak Island, where Iran has a military base, instead of the existing route through Omani territorial waters.
The news agency said the Iranian government has already officially notified major countries in the region of this policy.
Earlier, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) also reported that Iran is pushing a plan to maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz and limit the number of ships passing per day to around a dozen.
According to the WSJ, Iran is requiring ships passing through the strait to coordinate in advance with the IRGC. Vessels must negotiate the toll in advance and pay the expense in cryptocurrency or Chinese yuan.
Hamid Hosseini, Spokesperson of the Iran Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters' Union, told the Financial Times (FT), "All tankers must request passage in advance by email, after which the authorities notify the toll based on digital currency." The toll is about $1 per Barrel, and empty tankers are said to be able to pass relatively freely.
Payments must be made in bitcoin and the like within a short deadline. The explanation is that this is a measure to avoid tracking and asset seizure due to sanctions. According to the shipping industry, the toll varies widely depending on ship size, and for very large crude carriers it can reach up to $2 million (about 3 billion won).
Actual traffic has plummeted due to Iran's control over ships. According to energy information firm S&P Global Market Intelligence, ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, which numbered about 135 per day before the war, have recently fallen to around four.
Tensions appeared to ease with the truce, but continued Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon and the possibility of Iranian retaliation have combined to leave passage through the strait virtually paralyzed. This is seen as Iran's move to institutionalize effective control of the strait it secured during the war by attacking unauthorized ships.
Iran is also reportedly considering a differential system that applies lower expense or allows passage for its own and friendly countries' ships, while imposing restrictions on ships of countries linked to the United States or Israel. Even for ships allowed to pass, they must use a narrow channel along the Iranian coast instead of the existing route.
International backlash is strong. The Strait of Hormuz is a key chokepoint through which about 20% of the world's crude oil and LNG cargo moves. There are concerns that if Iran strengthens control, disruptions to energy supply and inflationary pressure will be inevitable.
The United States is calling for "freedom of navigation," but Iran has reportedly warned that ships passing the strait without Revolutionary Guard approval could become targets of attack. Citing mines it has laid, Iran is asserting that "coordination with the military is necessary for safety."
However, there is significant criticism that such measures could violate international law. As a natural strait, Hormuz, unlike a canal, is not permitted to impose tolls, which could constitute a violation of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Middle Eastern oil producers and major energy importers are also pushing back strongly. In particular, the move to levy some tolls in yuan is heightening concerns because it could weaken Western influence in crude oil transactions.
Experts say that even if the truce holds, it will likely take considerable time to normalize passage through the strait unless Iran offers credible security guarantees.