Iran to Levy Insurance Fees for Ships Passing Through Strait of Hormuz Iran’s move to tighten control over the Strait of Hormuz is sharpening global worries over energy security and the politicisation of maritime trade. At the heart of the dispute is a new Iranian insurance rule that shipping executives fear could evolve into de facto transit fees.

In mid-June, shipping industry figures began warning that language in a recent US-Iran accord might allow Tehran to impose new charges on vessels using the strategic chokepoint after a 60‑day period, potentially via a mechanism “similar to [the] Strait of Malacca.” Executives cautioned that such a step could raise costs for global trade and set a precedent for other waterways.

A day later, those concerns appeared closer to reality as an Iranian government agency announced that all vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz must carry an insurance policy approved by Tehran. Iran framed the move as a regulatory requirement: ships using the “vital waterway” would now need to meet specific insurance conditions enforced by the state.

From Iran’s perspective, the new policy formalises oversight of a corridor critical to its security and economy, while creating a legal basis to seek “insurance fees” for passage through Hormuz. Supporters in Tehran are likely to argue that other key routes already rely on funds or levies to manage risks and infrastructure, and that Iran is entitled to a comparable role.

Shipping companies and global traders, however, see mounting risks. They worry the insurance rule is a first step toward broader charges for transit, as foreshadowed in industry warnings that the US-Iran accord “opens way for Hormuz charges.” That prospect raises fears of higher freight costs, possible disruption to oil and gas flows, and greater vulnerability of global supply chains to geopolitical bargaining.

As the 60‑day window referenced by industry executives ticks down, governments and markets are watching to see whether Iran’s insurance requirement remains a technical measure—or becomes a gateway to new tolls on one of the world’s most critical sea lanes.

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