Iran's Supreme National Security Council announced on Monday the launch of an official X account for the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, the body Tehran says will manage ship transits through the Strait of Hormuz and collect passage fees — formalising a system that has reportedly already been in place since March.
Vessels wanting to transit the strait must apply via the PGSA's official email address, submitting ownership details, insurance, crew manifests, cargo declarations and intended routing.
A transit permit is issued only after the authority approves the submission and a fee is paid. No official tariff has been published. Reports indicate some vessels have already paid up to $2 million (**€**1.7m) per transit, with payment made in Chinese yuan.
The authority functions as an administrative interface with the IRGC Navy, which physically controls transits through the waterway. The IRGC is designated a foreign terrorist organisation by the US and the EU, among others.
The announcement followed weeks of confusion and danger for the ships in the strait. After Tehran said in March it would charge for safe passage, fraudulent operators began offering unofficial transit paperwork in exchange for cryptocurrency payments.
