Iran Reports Controlled Ship Transits Through Strait of Hormuz Amid Tensions
Iran’s IRGC Navy announced that 25–33 ships, including oil tankers and container vessels, passed through the Strait of Hormuz daily in late May 2026 under Iranian coordination and permits. Reuters reported some vessels pay over $150,000 for safe passage, while about 1,500 ships were stranded earlier. This follows US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February and Tehran’s retaliatory closure of the strait, a critical global energy chokepoint. The transits indicate partial resumption of traffic under Iranian control.
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Iran Establishes Sovereign Toll Regime at Strait of Hormuz
In late February 2026, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to foreign shipping, initially as a chaotic wartime measure. By mid-May, this evolved into an official sovereign toll regime codified in Iranian law and priced in cryptocurrency. On May 18, Iran operationally launched the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (pgsa.ir), a formal state bureaucracy with an X account and contact email. Tehran delineated a 'management supervision area' across the strait and announced a transit-permit scheme, effectively converting the international waterway into a vetted toll plaza. This development represents a significant escalation in Iran's control over one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints for global oil and trade.
War on the RocksIran Establishes Sovereign Toll Regime at Strait of Hormuz
In late February 2026, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to foreign shipping, initially as a wartime measure. By mid-May, this evolved into a formal sovereign toll regime codified in Iranian law and priced in cryptocurrency. On May 18, Iran launched the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (pgsa.ir), a state bureaucracy with an official website, social media presence, and contact email. Tehran has delineated a 'management supervision area' across the strait and announced a transit-permit scheme, effectively converting the international waterway into a vetted toll plaza. This development represents a significant escalation in Iran's control over one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints for global oil and trade transit.
War on the RocksIran Establishes Sovereign Toll Regime in Strait of Hormuz
In late February 2026, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to foreign shipping, initially as a wartime measure. By mid-May, this evolved into a formal sovereign toll regime codified in Iranian law and priced in cryptocurrency. On May 18, Iran operationally launched the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (pgsa.ir), a state bureaucracy with an official website, social media presence, and contact email. Tehran delineated a 'management supervision area' across the strait and announced a transit-permit scheme, effectively converting the international waterway into a vetted toll plaza. This development represents a significant escalation in Iran's control over one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints for global oil and trade.
War on the RocksVessels carrying Middle East oil, LNG exit Hormuz amid US-Iran peace talks, head for Pakistan, China
A handful of supertankers carrying Middle East oil and LNG have exited the Strait of Hormuz in May 2026, using a transit route that Iran has ordered ships to follow. The vessels are heading for Pakistan and China. This movement occurs amid ongoing US-Iran peace talks, suggesting a potential easing of tensions in the region. The article notes that before the war began, shipping traffic through Hormuz averaged 125 vessels per day, indicating a significant disruption and now a possible resumption of normal maritime traffic.
The Business TimesOver 30 Ships Pass Through Strait of Hormuz in Past Day, IRGC Navy Reports
On May 24, 2026, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy reported that 33 vessels, including tankers, container ships, and other commercial vessels, passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the previous 24 hours. According to a statement cited by the Fars news agency, the ships sailed through the strait after receiving permits and in coordination with the IRGC Navy. This follows a report from the previous day that the IRGC permitted 25 vessels to transit the strait. The article also includes links to related stories about regional tensions, including potential economic impacts of a strait closure and US-Iran disagreements.
TASSIran Reports 25 Ships Transited Strait of Hormuz in Past Day Under IRGC Coordination
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy announced on Saturday that 25 ships, including oil tankers, container ships, and other commercial vessels, passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours after obtaining permission and coordinating with Iranian authorities. The statement, carried by state broadcaster IRIB, comes amid ongoing regional tensions following US and Israeli strikes against Iran in late February. Tehran retaliated with attacks on Israel and US allies in the Gulf and subsequently closed the strategic waterway, a critical global energy transit route. The reported transits suggest a partial resumption of traffic, though shipping levels remain low according to earlier reports.
Middle East MonitorIran Reports 117 Ships Crossed Strait of Hormuz in Four Days Under Guard Protection
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on Saturday that 25 oil tankers and commercial ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours under their protection, bringing the total to 117 vessels that have transited the strategic waterway in the last four days with Tehran's approval. The announcement, reported by EFE and carried by Digi24, underscores Iran's ongoing assertion of control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. The figure suggests sustained maritime traffic despite regional tensions, with the Guard emphasizing its role in escorting and authorizing passages.
Digi24Reuters: Some Ships Pay Over $150,000 to Iran for Safe Passage Through Strait of Hormuz
According to a Reuters news agency report cited by Iran International, some commercial vessels not covered by government-to-government agreements are paying more than $150,000 to Iranian authorities to secure safe passage through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The report also notes that in early May, approximately 1,500 ships carrying 22,000 sailors were stranded or caught in the Gulf region, highlighting the significant disruption and financial burden imposed on maritime traffic amid ongoing tensions. This practice underscores Iran's leverage over one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints, where a substantial portion of global petroleum and liquefied natural gas shipments pass daily.
ایران اینترنشنالIRGC Says 26 Ships Passed Through Strait of Hormuz in Past 24 Hours
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that 26 ships, including oil tankers, container carriers, and other commercial vessels, passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours. The IRGC stated that the transit was conducted with the coordination and security of the IRGC Navy, emphasizing that all transport through the strategic waterway is carried out with permission and under its coordination. This announcement underscores Iran's continued assertion of control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, amid ongoing regional tensions.
ایران اینترنشنال