Iran’s embassy in India on Monday (local time) rejected claims circulating online that Tehran is now demanding a $2 million payment in exchange for allowing vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway closed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The embassy explained in a post on X that reports of Iran collecting $2 million from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz are unfounded. She emphasized that such remarks reflect individual opinions and do not represent the official position of the Islamic Republic.
The clarification came after Alaeddin Boroujerdi, an Iranian lawmaker and member of the parliament’s national security committee, said in an interview with Iran International that Tehran had begun charging certain vessels up to $2 million to allow passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian lawmaker on charging vessels in the Strait of Hormuz
Describing the move as part of a broader shift in strategy to assert control over the key maritime corridor, Boroujerdi said the policy had already been implemented. He characterized it as the beginning of what he called a new sovereign framework that has ruled the Strait of Hormuz for decades.
Justifying the idea, the lawmaker said that war comes with costs, so it is reasonable for Iran to impose transit fees on vessels using the route. He added that such a move underscores Tehran’s authority over the waterway.
Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz
The development comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region, with the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed following US and Israeli strikes in late February targeting Iran’s military and naval infrastructure. The attacks resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with several senior officials.
The closure of a critical passage through which almost a fifth of global oil supplies are transported sent shockwaves through energy markets and jittery traders around the world. The International Energy Agency (IEA) intervened in an attempt to calm fears of supply disruptions. On March 11, the agency announced it would release 400 million barrels of oil from its emergency stockpile.
Donald Trump’s Warning to Iran
Amid the escalating situation, US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Tehran last week, threatening to destroy its energy infrastructure if the strait is not reopened by March 23. Trump said in a post on Truth Social that if Iran cannot fully reopen the waterway without threats within 48 hours, the United States will begin targeting and destroying its largest power plants, starting with the largest.
Iran strikes back
Tehran responded sharply to Trump’s warning, saying any attack on its energy infrastructure would be met with a proportionate response. Iranian officials have warned that they will target energy facilities, IT networks and desalination plants linked to the US and Israel across the region.
Following the US warning, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also issued a direct message, saying that threats and intimidation only strengthen national unity within the Islamic Republic. In a post on X, he said attempts to erase Iran reflect desperation in the face of a resilient and historically rooted nation.
He further stated that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to all countries, except those that encroach on Iranian territory. According to a Hindustan Times report, while some vessels, including those bound for India, have managed to pass through the narrow strait, many others remain trapped as tensions continue and Iran pushes for its response to the US-Israeli strikes.
