Iran claims transit fee collection and ongoing oil exports, as US confirms stringent blockade

Strait of Hormuz toll.. and 35 crossings through the US blockade in 10 days

The Strait of Hormuz, the waterway through which approximately 20% of global oil supplies pass, has witnessed two simultaneous developments. First, Tehran announced the collection of first revenues from ship transit fees, depositing them into the central bank’s account. Second, Iran continues to export its oil despite the naval blockade imposed by the US Navy since April 13, a claim the US administration considers exaggerated, in light of the ongoing naval blockade on Iranian ports.

The following report reviews the details of Iran’s draft toll law, the volume of oil operations monitored by analytics firms, and Washington’s position on navigation through the strait.

First transit fees in local currency

Iranian Parliament Deputy Speaker Hamid Reza Haji Babaei announced yesterday, Thursday, the collection of first revenues from ship transit fees through the Strait of Hormuz, confirming their transfer to the central bank’s account.

This was reported by Mehr News Agency, while the draft law regarding the strait remains under development in parliament. It includes banning the passage of US, Israeli, and ships of countries participating in sanctions against Tehran, in addition to imposing fees in Iranian rials. However, the draft law itself has not yet been approved or ratified.

An Iranian legislative body previously estimated potential revenues from managing the strait at around $10-15 billion, without specifying a timeline for achieving such returns.

Oil exports continue to flow

On the other side, in a parallel development, Reuters reported that Iranian oil exports continue to transit the Strait of Hormuz despite the naval blockade imposed by the US Navy.

According to data from analytics firm Vortexa, approximately 10.7 million barrels of Iranian oil passed through the strait and left the blockade area between April 13 and April 21.

Tankers with disabled tracking systems

Reuters added that shipments were carried out by six oil tankers whose tracking systems had been disabled. In a statement, Ali Khedriyan, a member of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, stated that Tehran continues to export oil despite the blockade, and that exports have not only not stopped but have become larger than before the escalation, particularly over the past two weeks.

35 transits in ten days

Vortexa revealed that it recorded a total of 35 transit operations through the US blockade area between April 13 and April 22, involving ships linked to Iran or subject to sanctions, making trips in both directions.

Washington affirms continuation of naval blockade

In contrast, the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff stressed today, Friday, that US naval forces continue to impose a stringent blockade on Iranian ports, applying it comprehensively to any vessel whatsoever.

He added in a statement that US forces are monitoring “vessels of interest,” whether heading to Iran or those that were outside the blockade zone. Washington affirms that ships not linked to Tehran can transit freely as long as they have not paid transit fees to Iran, in clear contradiction to the Iranian narrative asserting continued and expanded exports despite the blockade.

It is worth noting that the US Navy began imposing a blockade on all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz on April 13.

Read also:

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Fars News citing Iran’s Central Bank: Strait of Hormuz transit fees are only taken from ships that obtain transit permission
– Proceeds from ship transit fees for the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for security services will be delivered in cash
– Fees imposed on ships vary according to the type and quantity of goods and the risk ratio pic.twitter.com/LsnAln8vPG

— Al Jazeera Mubasher (@ajmubasher) April 23, 2026