Iran Reportedly Charging Millions To Ships To Go Through Strait Of Hormuz Citing Cost Of War

The Iranian regime is charging ship operators $2 million to allow them to go through the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway through which about 20% of the world's energy goes through, citing the cost of the war with the U.S. and Israel, according to a new report from Bloomberg.

The outlet said some ships have paid the charges, but details about the mechanism and currency used are not clear. Payments have been made discreetly, and only a small number of vessels have made it through.

Specialized outlet Argus Media also reported on the development, detailing that parliament member Alaeddin Boroujerdi said on Sunday that the country has the right to demand such a charge, which also "shows the power and the right that the Islamic Republic of Iran has."

However, the country's embassy in India said in a social media post that the remarks were false, claiming they "merely reflect the personal views of individuals and do not, in any way, represent the official position of the Islamic Republic of Iran."

The country said the strait is open for vessels from non-enemy combatants and they can go through the waterway if they reach out to Iran and discuss arrangements.

In this context, President Donald Trump suggested that the U.S. could control the Strait of Hormuz along with Iran. Speaking to press on Monday, Trump was asked to elaborate on the notion. "Maybe me. Me and the Ayatollah, whoever the Ayatollah is. There'll also be a form of a very serious form of a regime change," Trump added, noting that most of Iran's top officials have been killed since the war began on February 28.

"Now in all fairness, everybody's been killed from the regime. They're really starting off. There's automatically a regime change," Trump said. He went on to claim that such a scenario represents a form of regime change, and his administration is dealing with new leaders that he finds "to be very reasonable, very solid."

Tehran has rejected there are ongoing talks and outlined several demands to end hostilities, including guarantees to ensure a ceasefire won't be broken and compensation for the attacks that it has sustained.

The U.S., in turn, seeks to drastically curb the country's nuclear and missile programs, as well as guarantees that it won't seek to break any imposed threshold.