Iran is preparing to turn the Strait of Hormuz into a central bargaining point in its widening confrontation with the United States, with Tehran set to unveil a proposed traffic management and toll system for vessels passing through one of the world’s most important energy routes.
The plan, announced as the war entered its 79th day, comes as diplomatic efforts remain fragile, Washington intensifies pressure on Tehran, and Israel continues military strikes in Lebanon despite attempts to preserve a ceasefire.
Iranian officials said the proposed system would create a designated passage route through the Strait of Hormuz, with fees imposed for what Tehran called specialized services. Iranian legislator Ebrahim Azizi said the mechanism would benefit only commercial vessels and parties cooperating with Iran.
The strait, long considered a critical artery for global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, has become a major flashpoint in the conflict. Reuters reported that Iran has effectively shut the waterway, aggravating a historic oil supply crisis and deepening global concern over energy security.
Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref also warned that Tehran would no longer permit “enemy” military equipment to pass through the strategic channel. The statement signaled Iran’s intent to use the strait not only as an economic pressure point but also as a security checkpoint in its standoff with Washington and its allies.
The move further complicates already strained negotiations. US President Donald Trump, speaking after talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, said Beijing agreed that Iran must reopen the strait. Trump warned Tehran that it must reach an agreement or face renewed pressure, while reiterating Washington’s demand that Iran be prevented from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Iran has maintained that its nuclear program is not intended for weapons development. Tehran has also said it will not reopen the strait unless the United States lifts its blockade of Iranian ports.
The US military said it has redirected 78 commercial ships and disabled four vessels as part of its continuing blockade, a campaign that has further restricted Iran’s maritime access and raised the risk of confrontation at sea.
Iranian state television reported that European countries have started talks with Tehran over ship passage through the strait, following similar engagement by East Asian countries, including China, Japan, and Pakistan. The report said the discussions involved the Revolutionary Guard’s navy, but gave no further details.
Pakistan has also stepped up efforts to revive negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Tehran on Saturday to help facilitate peace talks, following an earlier visit by Pakistan’s military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir. Reuters reported that Islamabad has been mediating between the two sides, although progress remains limited.
Beyond the Gulf, the conflict continued to spill across the region. Israel launched new airstrikes in southern Lebanon, including attacks that Lebanese authorities said killed at least six people, among them three paramedics at a Hezbollah-linked health facility.
The strikes came only hours after Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend a ceasefire by 45 days following talks in Washington. Israel said it targeted Hezbollah infrastructure and claimed militants were preparing to fire rockets at Israeli troops. The Guardian reported that renewed strikes hit several villages in southern Lebanon and forced more civilians to flee, exposing the fragility of the ceasefire deal.
The United States, meanwhile, marked the return of the USS Gerald R. Ford to Virginia after an 11-month deployment, the longest US aircraft carrier deployment since the Vietnam War. The Associated Press reported that the carrier supported the US war with Iran and operations linked to the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, while the prolonged mission raised concerns over the strain on sailors and equipment.
Iran’s planned Hormuz toll system marks a sharper attempt to convert control of maritime access into strategic leverage. For Tehran, it is a way to push back against US pressure. For Washington and its allies, it raises the urgency of reopening a vital trade route. For the wider region, the combination of maritime restrictions, port blockades, Israeli strikes and unstable ceasefire arrangements suggests that the war remains far from contained.