Iran collects first Hormuz transit fee revenue

Iran has announced that revenue collected from tolls on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz has been deposited into the Central Bank of Iran for the first time. The regime claims the payment system is now formalized, though reports indicate Iran has been charging select vessels informally, with fees reportedly reaching up to $2 million per ship or tanker, sometimes paid in yuan, cryptocurrency, or other means. This development marks a significant escalation in Iran's control over the strategic waterway amid ongoing tensions with the United States.