Fraying ceasefire reignites Hormuz toll prospects with implications for other chokepoints
- With US President Donald Trump declaring that the agreement is officially over, resurrection of the Tehran Toll Booth is back on the cards as the MOU hangs in the balance
- Legality of fees is highly improbable even if Iran charges vessels under the guise of insurance or environment fees
- The long-term viability of this will depend on how the rest of the world reacts, with a ‘might-makes-right’ precedent possibly forcing some to pay up
- If accepted, countries bordering other vital chokepoints could follow suit, although some countries have already committed to refraining from imposing tolls
Vessels have already begun following the Iran-stipulated route following the MOU fallout, suggesting that shipowners could be choosing the path of least resistance by complying with Iran, opening up a possibility of vessels complying with tolls under threat of military action
