Iran formally told the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization that it holds authority over parts of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes through every single day.
The notification, delivered around March 22, 2026, declared an innocent passage regime through the strait while denying broader transit rights to vessels. In English: Iran is saying ships can pass through, but only on Iran’s terms, not under the international transit passage rules that have governed the waterway for decades.
From declaration to toll booth
Iran didn’t stop at paperwork. By May 2026, Tehran had established the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, a body designed to manage transit approvals and collect tolls from vessels passing through waters Iran now claims to control.
Reports indicate the initial toll was set at approximately $1 per barrel.
