Iran’s blockade and toll system in the Strait of Hormuz disrupting global shipping

1 hours ago2 articles from 2 sources

Consensus Summary

Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz by redirecting shipping through a controlled northern corridor near its coastline, creating a de facto 'tollbooth' system where vessels pay fees—reportedly up to $2 million—for safe passage. Since the US-Israel war began on February 28, daily traffic has plummeted from 138 vessels to fewer than six, disrupting global oil and gas supplies and sending energy prices soaring. Iran allows passage for non-sanctioned or 'non-hostile' ships, prioritizing allies like China and India, while imposing risks for others. At least two ships have paid transit fees, and Iran’s IRGC oversees the approval process, though safety is not guaranteed. Over 20 ships have been attacked or damaged, and 20,000 seafarers remain stranded in the Gulf. International efforts, including a UK-led summit, aim to reopen the strait, but shipping patterns remain volatile. China and India are leveraging diplomatic ties to secure passage, while other nations face higher insurance costs and crew safety concerns. The blockade has also allowed Iran to maintain oil exports, profiting from the crisis while global economies struggle with supply shortages.

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Key details reported by multiple sources:

Iran has reduced daily ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz by about 95% since February 28, from a pre-war average of 138 vessels/day to roughly 5-6 large vessels/day (ABC) or fewer than 40 vessels entering/exiting in March (Guardian).
Iran is enforcing a 'selective closure' or 'tollbooth' regime, directing vessels through a new northern shipping corridor near Iranian waters (ABC, Guardian).
Iran has allowed passage for non-sanctioned or 'non-hostile' vessels, including those owned by China, India, Greece, UAE, and Marshall Islands (ABC, Guardian).
At least two ships have reportedly paid Iran a transit fee of $2 million each for passage through the strait (ABC, Guardian).
Iran’s crude oil exports have remained relatively stable, averaging 1.6 million barrels/day from March 1-23 (ABC), despite the blockade.
The IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) is overseeing the strait’s closure and approval process (ABC, Guardian).
Iran’s Kharg Island remains active as an oil export hub, with satellite imagery showing tankers present as of March 17 (ABC).
The US and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28, triggering the blockade (ABC, Guardian).
More than 20 ships have been attacked or damaged in the region since the conflict began, including the Palau-flagged Skylight tanker (Guardian).
The UN’s IMO has warned of 20,000 stranded seafarers in the Gulf facing supply shortages (Guardian).
China and India are engaging in direct diplomacy with Iran to secure safe passage for their vessels (ABC, Guardian).
The standard commercial shipping lane through the middle of the strait is now avoided, with vessels taking the Iranian-controlled northern route (ABC, Guardian).
Israel killed IRGC navy head Alireza Tangsiri on March 24, reportedly responsible for the strait’s closure (Guardian).
Over 30 countries, including the UK, France, and Australia, have signed a joint statement to reopen the strait (Guardian)

Points of Difference

Details reported by only one source:

ABC News

About five to six large vessels (tankers, bulk carriers, container ships) are moving daily through the Strait of Hormuz (ABC analysis of marine tracking data and satellite imagery).
Iran’s senior parliamentary official Alaeddin Boroujerdi stated Iran charges $2 million from each ship as a transit fee, with the law formalizing this expected to be finalized next week (ABC).
The Karachi (Pakistan-owned) was the first non-sanctioned oil tanker to pass through the strait on March 15, broadcasting its location near Iranian waters, signaling a new corridor (ABC).
Dr Sal Mercogliano (former merchant mariner) noted that shipping costs have spiked 10x, incentivizing risky transits, and that Greek shipowners are prominent in recent crossings (ABC).
India’s Pine Gas LPG Carrier crossed the strait and was expected to reach port this week, with Indian Navy warships escorting some vessels (ABC).
Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stated India prefers negotiating with Tehran over risky transits (ABC).
Japan’s first ship bound for Australia after the war was a Japanese-owned bulk carrier reflagged as 'CHINA OWNER' to transit the strait (ABC).
Sir John Jenkins (retired British diplomat) suggested reflagging or agreed protocols for identifying shipments as belonging to specific countries (ABC).
India relies on the strait for 40% of crude oil imports, half of LNG imports, and most LPG shipments (ABC).
China buys around 90% of Iran’s exported oil, and Sir Jenkins compared the Strait of Hormuz situation to China’s intervention with Houthis in the Red Sea (ABC).
Iranian vessels are often sailing without broadcasting their locations, complicating data accuracy (ABC).
About 46 oil tankers transited the strait between March 1-26, compared to a pre-war average of 50/day (ABC).
More than one-fifth of ships crossing are owned by Iran, though many Iranian vessels operate without AIS tracking (ABC).

The Guardian

The UN’s IMO has sounded the alarm over 20,000 stranded seafarers in the Gulf facing dwindling supplies (Guardian).
Iran’s 'safe corridor' is located between Larak island and the Iranian mainland, a northerly route close to the Iranian coastline (Guardian).
Iran’s approval to transit does not guarantee vessel safety, as IRGC factions may still delay or seize vessels despite clearance (Guardian).
Windward logged two cargo ships entering the Gulf on March 24 hugging the Oman coastline and sailing without reporting their position (Guardian).
No maritime traffic was recorded in the standard commercial shipping lanes on March 24, while 10 large vessels were observed north of Larak island (Guardian).
The first oil tanker attacked was the Palau-flagged Skylight, which was struck off Oman’s coast on March 1, killing its captain and a crew member (Guardian).
No vessels have been damaged since March 22, but analysts expect months to recover normal shipping patterns (Guardian).
Iran’s transit approvals are determined by whether vessels are 'non-hostile' (not supporting US/Israel or participating in aggression against Iran) (Guardian).
Payments for transit were reportedly made in Chinese yuan due to IRGC sanctions (Guardian).
The UK offered to host an international security summit to reopen the strait (Guardian).
Maritime insurance remains available but at higher prices, with little recent demand for coverage in the strait (Guardian).
Four vessels were observed transiting the strait on March 24 with AIS on, including one Panama-flagged tanker and two cargo vessels (Guardian).
The inbound traffic on March 24 included a Panama-flagged tanker and two cargo vessels, while the outbound was a Panama-flagged LPG tanker (Guardian).
Lloyd’s List Intelligence estimated about 100 vessels exited the Gulf and 40 entered in March (Guardian).
The Guardian refers to Iran’s toll system as 'Tehran’s tollbooth' (Guardian).
The standard commercial shipping lane is now 'effectively closed,' with vessels taking the Iranian-controlled route (Guardian).

Contradictions

Conflicting information between sources:

ABC reports Iran charges $2 million per ship for transit, while Guardian does not specify the exact fee but confirms at least two vessels paid (one reportedly $2m).
ABC states about 5-6 large vessels transit daily, while Guardian notes a slight uptick on March 24 (four vessels with AIS on) but emphasizes overall trickle traffic.
ABC claims India has a 'preference' for negotiating with Tehran, while Guardian does not explicitly state India’s diplomatic stance beyond general efforts to secure passage.
ABC mentions Iran’s new law formalizing the toll system is expected to be finalized 'next week,' while Guardian does not provide a timeline for legalization.
Guardian states no vessels have been damaged since March 22, while ABC does not provide a specific date for the last attack but implies ongoing risks.

Source Articles

GUARDIAN

‘Tehran’s tollbooth’: a visual guide to how a trickle of ships still passes through strait of Hormuz

Many of the vessels willing to make the crossing are taking an alternative route through Iranian waters Threats to shipping have effectively closed the strait of Hormuz since the US-Israel war on Iran...

27 March 2026

ABC

'You're going to run the strait': The financial incentive for braving Iran's blockade

Iran is running one of the world's most critical shipping lanes as a "toll booth" and has likely made hundreds of millions of dollars of extra income from selling its own oil since the US and Israel w...

14 hours ago