On the 23rd local time, the deputy speaker of Iran's parliament announced that the first payment of revenue from the Strait of Hormuz passage fees had been deposited into the central bank account. Iran’s arrangement for charging transit vessels dates back to the initial ceasefire agreement. According to CCTV reports on April 8, a two-week ceasefire reached in early April included provisions allowing Iran and Oman to charge passage fees for transiting vessels, with the funds raised by Iran earmarked for post-war reconstruction.
Iran has announced that the first payment of the Strait of Hormuz passage fee has been received. Meanwhile, Iranian armed personnel fired upon transiting merchant ships and detained at least two vessels, effectively halting traffic along this globally critical energy route. The standoff between Iran and the United States over control of the strait is impacting global shipping markets in increasingly direct ways.
According to CCTV News, on the 23rd local time, the deputy speaker of Iran's parliament announced that the first payment of revenue from the Strait of Hormuz passage fees had been deposited into the central bank account. Iran’s arrangement for charging transit vessels dates back to the initial ceasefire agreement. According to CCTV reports on April 8, an anonymous regional official revealed that the two-week ceasefire reached in early April included provisions allowing Iran and Oman to charge passage fees for transiting vessels, with the funds raised by Iran earmarked for post-war reconstruction. Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi, representing the Supreme National Security Council, issued a statement noting that vessels could safely transit after coordinating with Iran's armed forces within the two-week period.
On the same day, according to Bloomberg, after Iranian armed personnel fired upon three transiting merchant ships, they subsequently boarded and detained the MSC Francesca and the bulk carrier Epaminondas—marking the first detention of commercial vessels by Iran in nearly eight weeks of conflict. The Epaminondas was later spotted heading toward Iran's Qeshm Island, while the MSC Francesca ceased transmitting its position signal following the exchange of fire.
Passage through the strait has almost entirely halted. Bloomberg ship-tracking data showed that, as of Thursday morning, only the bulk carrier LB Energy was observed navigating within the waterway, with no vessels entering. The oil tanker Ocean Jewel aborted its transit after Iranian forces opened fire, remaining stranded at the entrance of the strait. Since the U.S. military began blockading Iran’s coast on April 13, American forces have intercepted and redirected 31 vessels, most of which were oil tankers. On the 22nd, President Trump stated there is “no timetable” for ending the conflict with Iran and denied reports suggesting a timeframe for a ceasefire existed.
"Security does not come free."
According to CCTV News, on the evening of the 22nd local time, Iranian Islamic Parliament Speaker and Chief Negotiator Kalibaf stated that a full ceasefire would only make sense if the maritime blockade was lifted and "global economic coercion" ceased. He emphasized that reopening the Strait of Hormuz was impossible given the U.S.’s blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Iranian First Vice President Aref posted on social media on the 20th, stating that it was unreasonable to restrict Iran’s oil exports while expecting other countries to enjoy "free security" navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Aref stated, “Security in the Strait of Hormuz is not free,” adding, “The choice is clear: either ensure a free oil market open to all nations, or bear the risk of everyone paying a heavy price.”
Aref further noted that the stability of global fuel prices depended on whether economic and military pressures on Iran and its allies could be guaranteed to end permanently.
On the 19th local time, CCTV reporter learned that Rezaei Kochi, chairman of the Civil Engineering Committee of Iran's parliament, stated on the same day that Iran has formulated a comprehensive law on the management of the Strait of Hormuz, which is about to be finalized.
According to the law, the passage of goods and ships associated with the Israeli regime will be prohibited. Belligerent states will also be banned from passage without the permission of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. Additionally, any country causing damage to Iran will be prohibited from passing through the Strait of Hormuz until compensation is paid.
Under this plan, ships from various countries must pay fees in Rials to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Thirty percent of the revenue from passage fees will be used to strengthen the armed forces, while 70% will be allocated to improving people’s livelihoods.
US-Iran negotiations at an impasse as ceasefire deadline approaches
On the diplomatic front, both Iran and the US have issued strong signals. According to Xinhua News Agency, US President Trump clearly stated on the 22nd that there is “no timetable” for when the conflict with Iran will end, and there is no need to rush; regarding Iran’s detention of merchant ships, he said, "those were not American vessels," adding that the situation would be closely monitored. Earlier, Axios reported that Trump was willing to extend the ceasefire by three to five days, but the ceasefire would not be extended indefinitely.
Iran also adopted a tough stance. On the 23rd, Iran denied holding a second round of US-Iran talks and accused Trump of making “false statements”; Iran’s Foreign Ministry reiterated that it would only negotiate with the US under conditions that serve Iran’s interests. Israeli media reported that the ceasefire deadline set by Trump for Iran will expire on the 26th, but there is currently no clear timetable for renewed talks between the two sides.
On the US Navy front, since the blockade of Iranian ports began on April 13, 31 vessels have been intercepted and redirected. The US side stated that although dozens of ships have crossed the blockade line, some have been intercepted; two Iranian supertankers are currently docked at the port of Chabahar in the Gulf of Oman, while another is being escorted by a US warship.
Editor/KOKO