Iran has recorded its first earnings from tolls levied on vessels transiting the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, as tensions continue to simmer despite an extended ceasefire.
According to Al Jazeera, citing Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency, Deputy Parliament Speaker Hamidreza Haji Babaei said the initial toll revenues have been deposited into the country's central bank. The announcement marks a significant escalation in Tehran's response to what it describes as an ongoing naval blockade led by the United States.
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Iranian officials indicated that the toll regime is part of broader wartime measures amid its standoff with the US and Israel. However, authorities have not disclosed details on the amount collected or the mechanism used to enforce the charges.
According to multiple media reports, Tehran has also reiterated that the critical oil shipping route will remain closed as long as US naval restrictions persist.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said reopening the strait would be impossible under what he termed a blatant violation of the ceasefire through continued maritime pressure.
The developments come even as US President Donald Trump extended the truce to allow more time for Pakistan-mediated negotiations.
Iran has acknowledged Islamabad's diplomatic efforts but has stopped short of endorsing Washington's ceasefire extension.
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Meanwhile, maritime tensions remain high. Earlier media reports said that Iran's Revolutionary Guards have reportedly seized two vessels attempting to pass through the waterway, while the US Central Command said it had turned back dozens of ships as part of its own enforcement actions.
The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial artery for global energy supplies, remains at the center of the escalating geopolitical standoff, with both sides showing little sign of backing down despite ongoing diplomatic outreach.
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