Iran to Reinstate Toll for Ships in Hormuz Strait After 60-Day Grace Period
By Hwang Jin HyunPosted : June 18, 2026, 13:00Updated : June 18, 2026, 13:00
Hormuz Strait [Photo=AP·Yonhap]
Iran has reaffirmed its intention to reinstate tolls for vessels passing through the Hormuz Strait after a 60-day grace period of free passage ends.
On June 17, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the head of Iran's negotiating team and Speaker of Parliament, stated in an interview with state television that "the Hormuz Strait will not return to a pre-war state," confirming that tolls will be imposed following the expiration of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that allows for 60 days of free passage.
Ghalibaf emphasized, "Iran has the right to exercise sovereignty over the Hormuz Strait, and we will naturally charge for the services we provide."
However, he added, "This does not mean we will act in a manner contrary to international law or maritime navigation principles."
His remarks come amid growing uncertainty regarding the management of the Hormuz Strait and the toll issue after the 60-day negotiation period concludes.
Article 5 of the MOU states, "Iran will do its utmost to ensure that commercial vessels navigating from the Persian Gulf to Oman and vice versa can pass safely without any costs for 60 days only." This limits the free passage period to just 60 days.
Another provision indicates that "Iran will engage in discussions with Oman and others to define future management and maritime services in the Hormuz Strait." This suggests that Iran may seek to maintain some level of control over the Strait's management in the future.
Consequently, Iran is likely to assert its position that it can impose tolls on commercial vessels after the 60-day grace period, based on the wording in the MOU.