Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz plunged by as much as 95% after fighting intensified; Iran says it will reopen the waterway only if a new legal regime allows it to claim transit tolls to cover 'war damages'. Seyyed Mohammad Mehdi Tabatabaei posted on X that the strait 'will reopen only when, under a new legal regime, the damages from the imposed war are fully compensated from a portion of the transit toll revenues.' The claim reframes Tehran's leverage as a legal and financial demand rather than purely military pressure.

What Tehran says it wants Seyyed Mohammad Mehdi Tabatabaei posted on X that the Strait of Hormuz would stay effectively closed unless a new legal regime allowed Tehran to claim transit revenues to cover 'war damages.' He said the waterway 'will reopen only when, under a new legal regime, the damages from the imposed war are fully compensated from a portion of the transit toll revenues.' Iran appears to be acting on that logic: maritime tracking and commercial reports show a permissions-based system controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in which some friendly-flagged vessels are escorted through narrow corridors near Larak island. Industry intelligence firms describe that arrangement as a de facto toll booth regime rather than an outright legal framework. How shipping and oil flows have changed - Pre-conflict traffic: industry tallies put normal daily transits at roughly 100–135 vessels per day (Kpler nearer the lower end; other published tallies toward the higher end). - After fighting intensified in late February, transit counts plunged — Kpler estimated commodity traffic fell by as much as 95% at the low point, and some days saw crossings drop into single digits. Lloyd’s List Intelligence data showed just 116 crossings between 1 and 25 March. The collapse in traffic has had immediate market effects: oil prices rose above $100 a barrel after Iran effectively restricted passage to countries it said supported attacks on Iranian territory. Traders treat the narrow waterway as a choke point — about a fifth of global oil and gas normally flows through the Hormuz corridor — so restrictions force markets to reprice supply risk. Who’s getting through — and on what terms Tehran has allowed transit for a limited group of countries while keeping the route off-limits to the United States, Israel and aligned states. An Iranian official named China, Russia, India, Iraq and Pakistan among nations considered friendly enough for passage. Several Asian governments say they secured arrangements with Tehran to ensure non-disruptive transit for their vessels. India’s foreign minister attributed safe transit for Indian ships to direct diplomacy. Pakistan welcomed allocations reported to include a set number of vessel slots. Terms vary: some countries appear to have passage without paying fees, while others negotiated port calls, diplomatic guarantees or naval escorts. The precise conditions remain opaque because neither Tehran nor many shipping companies have disclosed written agreements. Claims of tolls and responses There are also direct commercial claims, including reports of paid passages and negotiated port calls, though precise terms and any formal legal framework remain unclear. Why this matters About a fifth of the world's oil and gas normally passes through the Hormuz corridor, so restrictions or a permissions-based regime have immediate market consequences. The recent collapse in transit and the subsequent rise in oil prices show how Tehran's move shifts leverage from purely military pressure to a commercial and legal argument that directly affects global energy security.

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Seyyed Mohammad Mehdi Tabatabaei said the strait 'will reopen only when, under a new legal regime, the damages from the imposed war are fully compensated from a portion of the transit toll revenues.'

This article was created with AI assistance.