Iran official calls for Hormuz control, national currency fees

An Iranian official has publicly called for the nation's armed forces to take direct responsibility for the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The official stated that transit fees for vessels passing through the critical waterway should be collected in Iran's national currency, the rial. This statement signals a potential escalation in Iran's posture toward controlling the vital maritime chokepoint. It follows recent legislative efforts in Iran's parliament to draft new policies concerning the strait.