Iran names six countries whose ships can pass through Strait of Hormuz, mulls US$2 million transit fee

Iran’s Strategic Gambit in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran has announced that only ships from six countries, China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iraq, and Bangladesh, will be allowed safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, while its parliament considers imposing a hefty US$2 million transit fee.

This move underscores Tehran’s bid to weaponize one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.  

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow 39-kilometer waterway linking the Persian Gulf to global markets, is the artery through which nearly 20% of the world’s oil supply flows.

Any disruption here reverberates across energy markets, raising prices and unsettling economies. Iran’s selective reopening of the strait after weeks of tension is not merely a maritime policy, it is a geopolitical statement. 

By granting passage to China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iraq, and Bangladesh, Iran signals a deliberate alignment with countries it views as strategic partners or neutral actors.

Notably absent are Western nations and their allies, particularly the United States, whose vessels remain barred. This exclusion is a direct rebuke to Washington, with Iranian officials openly declaring that the U.S. underestimated Tehran’s resolve to control the strait.  

Interestingly, reports also suggest that Malaysia has been granted passage rights, reflecting Tehran’s willingness to expand its circle of trusted partners beyond the initial six. 

Iran’s parliament is drafting legislation to impose a US$2 million transit fee per vessel. While framed as a sovereign right, this fee is effectively a geopolitical lever.

For oil tankers and cargo ships, such costs could ripple through global supply chains, exacerbating already volatile energy prices. The fee also symbolizes Iran’s assertion of control, turning the strait into a toll gate for favored nations while punishing adversaries economically.  

This maneuver has several layers of impact:  

- Energy Markets: Oil prices are likely to remain volatile, with traders factoring in both restricted access and increased costs.  

- Global Trade: Supply chains dependent on Gulf oil and gas face heightened uncertainty.  

- Diplomatic Fallout: Western nations, particularly the U.S., will view Iran’s selective access as a provocation, potentially escalating tensions in West Asia.  

- Strategic Leverage: By rewarding allies and penalizing rivals, Iran strengthens its geopolitical bargaining position.  

Iran’s decision to name six countries for safe passage and consider a US$2 million transit fee is more than maritime regulation, it is a calculated geopolitical gambit.

By weaponizing the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran asserts its sovereignty, challenges U.S. influence, and reshapes the dynamics of global energy trade.

Whether this bold move stabilizes or destabilizes the region will depend on how the excluded powers respond, but one thing is clear: the Strait of Hormuz has once again become the world’s most dangerous bottleneck.