{"url":"https://www.ft.com/content/04f6c510-47a8-4e05-99d5-5372fceeb395","title":"Iran eyes toll booth on Hormuz post-war","domain":"ft.com","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/29792898/pexels-photo-29792898.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","pexelsSearchTerm":"Strait of Hormuz ships","category":"World","language":"en","slug":"e95262d4","id":"e95262d4-cce8-4a8c-b07d-e09440fcbb16","description":"Gideon Rachman argues Iran could gain lasting control over Strait of Hormuz shipping despite war losses.","summary":"## TL;DR\n- Gideon Rachman argues Iran could gain lasting control over Strait of Hormuz shipping despite war losses.\n- Iran has charged reported $2mn per ship for safe passage; normally 140 ships pass daily.\n- This risks turning Hormuz into Iran's toll booth, boosting Tehran while frustrating US goals.[[1]](https://www.ft.com/content/04f6c510-47a8-4e05-99d5-5372fceeb395?syn-25a6b1a6=1)[[2]](https://t.co/Vzos5qVsTN)\n\n## The story at a glance\nGideon Rachman, FT chief foreign affairs columnist, warns that Iran may exit the US-Israeli war stronger by establishing de facto control over the Strait of Hormuz. The piece highlights Iran's wartime fees for ship passage and potential to formalise them post-conflict. It is reported now amid ceasefire talks and stalled negotiations over the strait.[[1]](https://www.ft.com/content/04f6c510-47a8-4e05-99d5-5372fceeb395?syn-25a6b1a6=1)[[3]](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/can-iran-charge-fees-ships-transit-strait-hormuz-2026-04-07)\n\n## Key points\n- Iran suffered heavy initial losses: its leader and senior advisers killed on day one of US-Israeli strikes.[[4]](https://www.afr.com/world/middle-east/iran-could-emerge-stronger-and-more-dangerous-from-this-war-20260331-p5zk3d)\n- Tehran has imposed a \"toll booth\" system, reportedly charging $2mn per ship for escorted safe passage through the strait.[[1]](https://www.ft.com/content/04f6c510-47a8-4e05-99d5-5372fceeb395?syn-25a6b1a6=1)\n- Normally, about 140 ships transit daily, carrying 20% of global oil; wartime closures and fees disrupt this flow.[[2]](https://t.co/Vzos5qVsTN)\n- Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and UAE face pressure to pay fees or risk economic hits from disrupted exports.\n- US lacks easy military fix to reopen strait due to Iran's drones and geography; force alone may fail.[[5]](https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iran-could-emerge-stronger-from-the-war--more-dangerous-to-u)\n- Iran pushes to institutionalise tolls in peace deals, sharing revenue possibly with Oman, evading sanctions via yuan or crypto.[[3]](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/can-iran-charge-fees-ships-transit-strait-hormuz-2026-04-07)\n\n## Details and context\nThe war began late February 2026 with US and Israeli strikes on Iranian leadership after escalating tensions. Iran retaliated by blocking most Hormuz traffic, creating a single escorted corridor for compliant ships—mostly from friendly nations like China.[[6]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Strait_of_Hormuz_crisis)\n\nRachman notes Iran's resilience surprised planners; despite blows, Tehran turned the strait into leverage, exposing limits of US power projection. Gulf petromonarchies now weigh paying \"pizzo\" (protection money) or urging Trump for regime change, both risky.[[5]](https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iran-could-emerge-stronger-from-the-war--more-dangerous-to-u)\n\nFees equate to $1 per oil barrel or up to $2mn per tanker, potentially yielding billions yearly if formalised—funds for rebuilding bombed infrastructure. This challenges international law on free transit passage, setting precedent for other chokepoints.[[7]](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-war-oil-gas-prices-strait-of-hormuz)\n\n## Key quotes\n> \"There is no doubt that Iran has suffered some savage blows. The country's leader and many of his most senior advisers were killed on the first day of the war.\"[[4]](https://www.afr.com/world/middle-east/iran-could-emerge-stronger-and-more-dangerous-from-this-war-20260331-p5zk3d)  \n— Gideon Rachman, FT\n\n## Why it matters\nIran's potential Hormuz monopoly threatens global energy security as the strait handles one-fifth of world oil. Businesses and consumers face higher shipping costs, insurance, and fuel prices if tolls stick. Watch ceasefire outcomes and US-Gulf responses, though full strait reopening remains uncertain.[[7]](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-war-oil-gas-prices-strait-of-hormuz)","hashtags":["#iran","#hormuz","#war","#energy","#geopolitics","#trump"],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.ft.com/content/04f6c510-47a8-4e05-99d5-5372fceeb395","title":"Original article"},{"url":"https://www.ft.com/content/04f6c510-47a8-4e05-99d5-5372fceeb395?syn-25a6b1a6=1","title":""},{"url":"https://t.co/Vzos5qVsTN","title":""},{"url":"https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/can-iran-charge-fees-ships-transit-strait-hormuz-2026-04-07","title":""},{"url":"https://www.afr.com/world/middle-east/iran-could-emerge-stronger-and-more-dangerous-from-this-war-20260331-p5zk3d","title":""},{"url":"https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iran-could-emerge-stronger-from-the-war--more-dangerous-to-u","title":""},{"url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Strait_of_Hormuz_crisis","title":""},{"url":"https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-war-oil-gas-prices-strait-of-hormuz","title":""}],"viewCount":4,"publishedAt":"2026-04-15T03:35:23.544Z","createdAt":"2026-04-15T03:35:23.544Z","articlePublishedAt":null}