Iran plans Hormuz transit changes, maritime service fees: Fars
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Vessels would initially enter along Iran’s coast and exit via the southern lane before traffic shifts entirely to a central route.
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A man waves an Iranian flag under a billboard with a graphic showing the Strait of Hormuz and sewn lips of US President Donald Trump in a square in downtown Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, May 6, 2026 (AP)
Iran will abolish the northern and southern lanes of the Strait of Hormuz, with vessel traffic eventually shifted to a central lane, Fars News Agency reported, citing an informed source.
According to the source, vessels will initially enter the Strait of Hormuz through the northern lane along Iran’s coastline and exit through the southern lane.
Once the specified deadline expires, vessel traffic through both lanes will cease, and all movement will take place through the central lane, the source said.
Fars denies reports of an Iran-Oman tariff dispute
The source added that specific fees will be imposed on vessels transiting the strait as part of charges for various services.
Reports of a dispute between Iran and Oman over tariffs based on the value of vessels’ cargo are untrue, according to the source.
“Vessel transit fees depend on many variables, including the extent of services we can provide,” the source stressed.
Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz will be required to pay for insurance, refueling, environmental fees, and similar services, the source said.
Iran closure, Yemen attacks slash Hormuz, Bab al-Mandab traffic
The reported changes come as maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab has sharply declined, with Iran and Yemen intensifying pressure on the two strategic waterways amid US aggression.
Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab collapsed on Wednesday as Iran and Yemen intensified pressure across two of the region’s most strategic waterways in response to US-Israeli aggression and the Saudi blockade on Yemen, Reuters reported.
Data from shipping analytics firm Kpler showed that only two vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, down from eight the previous day.
A Panama-flagged carrier transporting coal entered the waterway, while a Marshall Islands-flagged commodity vessel sailed out.
Before the United States and “Israel” launched their war on Iran on February 28 and Tehran responded by closing the strait, approximately 130 to 140 ships would normally pass through the strategic waterway each day.
