Iran's Strait of Hormuz Toll: A New Cash Source?

0:00On March 27, Iran is pushing to formalize a toll system for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, charging up to $2 million per fur, vessel for safe passage. Sources say this could bring in as much as $80 billion a year, turning the key waterway into a major cash source amid economic sanctions. Traffic through the Strait has plummeted, with just 116 crossings between March 1 and March 25, a 97 percent. Drop from the prior month, thousands of ships are stuck in the Gulf, waiting for Iranian approval that emballes Ved and cargo, crew, and sometimes hefty fees, shipping leaders call the Strait tightly controlled, expensive, and political now. Iran frames it as a wartime measure, but plans a new order even after conflict, comparing it to canal fees despite international sea laws against such. The United States has worn Iran and threatened strikes, but hasn't reopened free navigation. Companies are adapting by switching flags to neutral nations, using shadow banking for

1:02payments and rerouting trade mostly to Asia like China and India. This grip on the Strait could reshape energy flows, but experts warned it might push rivals to build bypass pipelines or spark a longer war, including possible ground action to secure the passage. We've been listening to U.S. News today, AI-powered national coverage.