Is Iran cashing in millions from Strait of Hormuz blockade?

Deutsche Welle · 🇩🇪 public Germany · Mar 25, 2026 · 835 words · By Nik Martin

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What to know about Is Iran cashing in millions from Strait of Hormuz blockade?

The article discusses allegations that Iran may charge fees for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, citing sources like Lloyd's List and experts. It mentions the potential implications for international maritime law and the involvement of organizations like the IMO. Iranian officials have denied the report, while some experts suggest the move could be a strategic response to economic pressures.

Propaganda risk 30%

Claims checked 16

Techniques found 0

Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center83%

Right17%

6 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Deutsche Welle reports: Is Iran cashing in millions from Strait of Hormuz blockade?.

Why it matters

March 25, 2026Throughout history, well-connected people and entities have always capitalized on crises.

Common ground

But the Iran war is taking profiteering to a whole new level, even as the US reportedly offers a 15-point plan to end the fighting.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

Follow-up questions

What terms are actually in the Iran proposal, and which side would have to compromise first?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Iran is charging up to $2 million per ship for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz?
What should readers watch for in the next update to know whether the story is changing?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dw.com/en/is-iran-cashing-in-millions-from-strait-of-hormuz-blockade…

analyticsAnalysis

30%

Propaganda Score

confidence: 80%

Minor concerns. Some persuasive language detected, but largely factual.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 16 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

help Insufficient Evidence 6

schedule Pending 6

check_circle Corroborated 3

verified Verified By Reference 1

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Claim 1: “Iran is charging up to $2 million per ship for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web sources independently report Iran charging up to $2 million per ship for Hormuz passage, including Bloomberg and other unnamed sources. The claim is supported by three distinct web search results.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Iranhas begunchargingsome commercial vesselsupto$2mpertriptotransittheStraitofHormuz, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with ...
https://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2026/03/24/iran-starts-chargi…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Iranisadvancing planstoformalize a system that wouldchargeshipsupto$2millionforpassagethroughtheStraitofHormuz, accordingtosources ...
https://matzav.com/iran-charging-2-million-for-hormuz-passag…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — AttheheartofthenewIrantoll systemisa requirement thatshipsbe deemed "non-hostile" and coordinate directly with Iranian authorities.
https://pirateswithoutborders.com/information/782868-iran-ch…

help

Claim 2: “Major oil and gas importers are willing to pay fees for safe passage through Hormuz to secure supplies.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in web searches, cross-references, or Wikipedia to support claims about major importers paying fees.

schedule

Claim 3: “US President Donald Trump is urging European NATO allies to join a multinational naval patrol in the Gulf.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 4: “Iranian officials have denied the report of charging fees for safe passage through Hormuz.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in web searches, cross-references, or Wikipedia to support or refute Iranian officials' denial of charging fees.

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Claim 5: “Lloyd's List reported that at least one tanker is believed to have made a payment for safe passage through Hormuz.”

CORROBORATED

Lloyd's List and multiple web sources confirm at least one tanker paid $2 million for safe passage through Hormuz. Cross-verification from independent reports and Wikipedia's 2026 crisis context supports this.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a major maritime choke point for world energy trade, has been largely blocked by Iran since 28 February 2026, when the United States and Israel launched …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Strait_of_Hormuz_crisis

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Larak Island (also Lark Island) is a small Iranian island located off the coast of Bandar Abbas, Iran, east of Qeshm Island and south of Hormuz Island. The narrowest part of the Strait of Hormuz, 24 m…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larak_Island

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The list of shipwrecks in 2026 includes ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during 2026.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shipwrecks_in_2026

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 6: “European countries have resisted immediate involvement in a Gulf naval escort mission but may contribute after fighting ends.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 7: “The IMO spokesperson stated that naval escorts are not a sustainable long-term solution for Hormuz security.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 8: “Iran is considering formalizing the fee as part of a peace deal with the US and Israel.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 9: “The IMO is working to establish a provisional measure to facilitate the safe evacuation of stranded ships.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 10: “Peter Sand stated that the $2 million transit charge is not the essential factor in reopening the strait.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in web searches, cross-references, or Wikipedia to support or refute Peter Sand's statement about the $2 million charge.

help

Claim 11: “Bloomberg cited unnamed sources stating that several vessels have paid to traverse the Strait of Hormuz.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in web searches, cross-references, or Wikipedia to support claims about unnamed sources reporting vessel payments.

verified

Claim 12: “Lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi claimed that fees are being collected as part of a 'new sovereign regime' in the strait.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia's 'Reactions to the Twelve-Day War' entry explicitly mentions lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi's claim about fees under a 'new sovereign regime'.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 13 June 2025, Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran by bombing several military and nuclear facilities, beginning the Twelve-Day War and drawing varied reactions across governments and non-gove…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactions_to_the_Twelve-Day_Wa…

help

Claim 13: “Charging fees for passage through Hormuz would breach international maritime law, according to Robert Huebert.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in web searches, cross-references, or Wikipedia to support or refute the legal analysis by Robert Huebert.

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Claim 14: “Iran's move threatens to turn the Strait of Hormuz into a high-stakes toll booth.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web sources describe Iran's actions as transforming Hormuz into a 'toll booth,' with geopolitical and economic implications. This is corroborated by repeated framing in news outlets.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 19 March 2026, the United States began an aerial campaign against Iranian targets to reopen the Strait of Hormuz following its closure by Iran in response to the 2026 Iran war. The operation was an…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Strait_of_Hormuz_campaign

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Strait of Hormuz () is a waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. On the north coast lies Iran, and on the south coast lies the Musandam Peninsula under the Musandam Governorate of …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Hormuz

+ 3 more evidence sources

help

Claim 15: “Lloyd's List reported that the payment method for Iran's fees is unclear due to international sanctions.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in web searches, cross-references, or Wikipedia to support claims about unclear payment methods due to sanctions.

schedule

Claim 16: “Iran sent a letter to IMO member states allowing 'non-hostile' vessels to transit Hormuz.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.