committee in Iran Strait of Hormuz

Tehran (dpa) — A security committee of Iran’s parliament has approved a draft bill introducing a toll system for the Strait of Hormuz and proposed restricting access for vessels linked to countries that have imposed sanctions on Iran.

The proposal will be submitted for debate and a vote in parliament, committee member Mojtaba Saree told the FARS news agency.

Under the draft, ships from the US, Israel and countries that have sanctioned Iran in recent years would be barred from transiting the strategic waterway. Vessels from the European Union would also be affected, according to Saree.

The toll would be levied in Iran’s national currency, the rial, FARS reported, in a move aimed at strengthening the currency and bypassing US sanctions while giving the state full control over financial flows.

The move signals a further escalation with Washington. US President Donald Trump has demanded that Tehran fully reopen the strait, a key route for global energy shipments, and has threatened consequences if it fails to do so.