The oil tanker JORYA sails near the coast of Oman, as seen from Musandam, Oman, on June 25, 2026. [Reuters/Stringer]

Iran is reportedly seeking to generate billions of dollars through security, safety, and environmental service fees associated with oil transit in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a report on Thursday, the 25th, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) stated that Tehran estimates a new fee structure linked to the management of this strategic waterway could generate up to $40 billion in annual revenue for participating nations, while simultaneously strengthening Iran's influence over one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints.

This news follows by one day Oman's announcement that it would never impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian officials reportedly presented these proposals to neighboring Persian Gulf countries and China, asserting that the management of the Strait of Hormuz "can never go back to the way it was" following the recent tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

As the Strait of Hormuz has long allowed international passage without tolls under established maritime norms, interest is growing as to whether this proposal could trigger a dramatic shift for the waterway.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during his visit to Bahrain on Thursday, strongly rejected the concept, warning that allowing Iran to impose tolls would set a dangerous international precedent, as reported by CBS News.

"No country on Earth has the right to charge for the use of international waterways," Secretary Rubio stated, adding, "This is a condition that will never be accepted in any negotiation."

Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi reaffirmed this position following talks with Secretary Rubio and other Gulf state foreign ministers, stating that any future agreement governing the Strait of Hormuz "will not involve any tolls."

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Wednesday, the 24th, that Iranian officials had assured the U.S. that they would "not demand any tolls, insurance premiums, or any other type of fees" from vessels passing through the Strait.

President Trump warned that if reports to the contrary were proven true, he would "immediately" terminate negotiations with Tehran.

He wrote on Truth Social early on the 24th, "Contrary to the inflammatory fake news reports denying it, Iran has informed the U.S. side that it is 'not demanding or collecting tolls, insurance premiums, or any other kind of fees from vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.'"

He added, "If this is misinformation, the negotiations will end immediately! Furthermore, the United States has not provided any funds to Iran, nor have we unfrozen and paid any Iranian funds. We will use a portion of the Iranian funds we currently control to pay our farmers and ranchers to purchase corn, wheat, soybeans, and more. Iran is in desperate need of food, and we will exclusively purchase food produced within the United States for Iran."

According to the WSJ, Iran has established an insurance company that vessels passing through the Strait would be required to use, and has introduced a new registration process requiring vessels to notify authorities two days prior to passage.

Even if no official toll is charged, concerns have already been raised that excessive insurance premiums could be used as a way to mask such fees.

Maritime law experts told the WSJ that Iran faces significant legal hurdles.

Unlike Turkey’s unique authority to collect tolls in the Dardanelles Strait under a 1936 international treaty, any new toll system for the Strait of Hormuz would likely require broad international approval through the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The Trump administration has maintained that freedom of navigation through this critical maritime passage is not a subject for negotiation while diplomacy with Tehran is underway.

U.S. NNP = Representative Journalist Sung Ku Hong / Special Correspondent NNP info@newsandpost.com