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Iran says it won’t charge "tolls" in the Strait of Hormuz. Instead, they’re calling it an "environmental protection fee." Yeah, really.
Let me break this down for you.
On May 25, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei made it official: no tolls. But ships passing through the strait will now have to pay for "navigational services" and "environmental protection measures." Different name, same vibe.
Here’s where it gets interesting.
Under international maritime law (UNCLOS), you can’t just slap tolls on transit passage. That’s a no-go. But fees for services? That’s a legal gray area. So Iran is basically rebranding the charge to slip through the loophole.
Now, they’ve also set up a new body called the "Persian Gulf Strait Authority" (PGSA). And guess what? They’ve drawn up a map claiming regulatory control over waters that actually belong to the UAE and Oman. That’s a bold move.
Naturally, the Gulf states aren’t thrilled. Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE fired off a joint letter to the IMO, warning ships not to comply. So you’ve got two competing "rules of the road" now.
But here’s the kicker: analysts aren’t buying the rebrand. Security expert Roger Macmillan called it "smoke and mirrors." His take? "Whatever word appears on the invoice, the substance is the same."
And the potential price tag? J.P. Morgan estimates Iran could rake in $70–90 billion annually if this sticks. So no, this isn’t about saving sea turtles.
Bottom line: call it a fee, a toll, or a donation — ships will still have to pay. And the geopolitical chess match just got messier.
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