Maths behind Hormuz toll: Is paying Iran for transit cheaper than blockade?

Al Jazeera · 🇶🇦 public Qatar · May 21, 2026 · 1563 words · By Yashraj Sharma

Economic Cost-Benefit Analysis Geopolitical Leverage Maritime Law and Sovereignty

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Al Jazeera reports: Maths behind Hormuz toll: Is paying Iran for transit cheaper than blockade?.

Claims checked 21

Techniques found 1

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Right coverage

Left11%

Center89%

Right0%

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

What happened

Al Jazeera reports: Maths behind Hormuz toll: Is paying Iran for transit cheaper than blockade?.

Why it matters

Economics of the Strait of Hormuz closure are skewed towards Iran.

Common ground

Then why won’t the ships just pay Tehran and sail away?

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

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 announcing the formation of the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), a new body to provide “real-time updates” on operations in the strait?
How does this story connect Economic Cost-Benefit Analysis with Geopolitical Leverage over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2026/5/21/maths-behind-hormuz-toll-is-paying-…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 21 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 11

check_circle Corroborated 4

info Single Source 3

help Insufficient Evidence 1

cancel Disputed 1

verified Verified 1

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Claim 1: “announcing the formation of the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), a new body to provide “real-time updates” on operations in the strait.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources (Al Jazeera, CNBC TV18, and other web results) confirm the announcement of the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) and its purpose to provide real-time updates via X.

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web search NEUTRAL — Iran’s Supreme National Security Council announced the formation of the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) on Monday and also launched its official account on X. In its first post, the authority sai…
https://www.marineinsight.com/irans-new-hormuz-shipping-auth…

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web search NEUTRAL — In a post on X, the PGSA announced the launch of its official account, saying: “The official X account of the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (#PGSA) is now live. Follow us for real-time updates on the …
https://www.cnbctv18.com/world/iran-announces-new-strait-of-…

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web search NEUTRAL — The body, labeled the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), made its first post on 18 May. “In the Name of God. The official X account of the PGSA is now live. Follow us for real‑time updates on Strai…
https://popularresistance.org/iran-announces-persian-gulf-st…

+ 1 more evidence source

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Claim 2: “Nearly one-fifth of global oil and LNG exports were shipped by Gulf producers through the Strait of Hormuz before the US and Israel bombed Iran on February 28”

CORROBORATED

The claim is supported by a Wikipedia entry regarding the 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis and an Al Jazeera report, both mentioning the US and Israel bombing Iran on February 28 and the 20% figure for oil/LNG.

travel_explore

web search 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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web search NEUTRAL — Nearly one-fifth of global oil and LNG exports were shipped by Gulf producers through the Strait of Hormuz before the US and Israel bombed Iran on February 28, triggering the Iranian closure of the wa…
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2026/5/21/maths-behind-ho…

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web search NEUTRAL — In 2025, about 20 million barrels of oil and oil products passed through the Strait of Hormuz per day, according to estimates from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). That is nearly $600bn…
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78n6p09pzno

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Claim 3: “On the day before the war broke out, Brent crude – the global benchmark for oil prices – closed at $72.48 per barrel.”

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 4: “The Strait of Hormuz passes through the territorial waters of Iran and Oman, with external parts reaching the United Arab Emirates.”

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 5: “Turkiye’s Bosporus Strait and Dardanelles... Turkiye charges for navigation-related services”

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 6: “Panama Canal: An artificial waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans... it can charge transit fees”

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: “Suez Canal: Another artificial canal, linking the Mediterranean and Red seas. Egypt charges transit fees”

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.

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Claim 8: “through which 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) are shipped during peacetime.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple cross-references from Al Jazeera consistently state that 20 percent of the world's oil and LNG supplies are shipped through the Strait of Hormuz during peacetime.

compare_arrows

cross reference SUPPORTS — Since the early days of the war, Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies are shipped in peacetime.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/23/how-iran-war-has-tr…

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cross reference SUPPORTS — Since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran nine weeks ago, the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) is shipped during peacetime, has become t…
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2026/4/28/when-will-strai…

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cross reference SUPPORTS — 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies are shipped through the Strait of Hormuz during peacetime.
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2026/4/17/australia-scram…

+ 2 more evidence sources

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Claim 9: “In terms of lost oil revenues, this amounts to $114.8bn of losses per day.”

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 10: “Since the blockade, less than 4 percent of peacetime traffic has passed through the Strait of 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.

help

Claim 11: “About 20.3 million barrels per day of oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz in peacetime – nearly 27 percent of global maritime oil trade.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided for this claim in the gathered results.

cancel

Claim 12: “Before the war began, between 120 and 140 ships travelled through the strait each day, about half of them oil tankers carrying some 20 million barrels of oil between them.”

DISPUTED

Different sources provide conflicting numbers. One source claims 40 tankers carrying 20 million barrels daily, while another mentions 20 million barrels of oil and products daily in 2025. The claim's specific range of '120 to 140 ships' is not explicitly corroborated by the provided evidence.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Prior to the war, a staggering 40 tankers carrying 20 million barrels of crude oil traversed the Strait of Hormuz on a daily bases.
https://www.unilad.com/news/world-news/countries-running-out…

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verified

Claim 13: “The strait is the only waterway linking Gulf producers to the open ocean”

VERIFIED

Multiple sources, including a dedicated informational site and a general description, confirm that the Strait of Hormuz is the only sea route/waterway connecting the Persian Gulf producers to the open ocean.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean. It is the only sea route for moving oil, natural gas and other cargo out of the Persi…
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/12/world/middleeast/strait-o…

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web search NEUTRAL — The Strait of Hormuz is a major route for illicit trade between the Musandam Peninsula, an exclave of Oman, and the southern coast of Iran. The city of Khasab in Musandam is the primary hub for this c…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Hormuz

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web search NEUTRAL — At its narrowest point, the Strait of Hormuz stretches just 33 kilometers, yet it connects the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and serves as the main export route for some of the world’s largest oil pr…
https://thebilken.com/strait-of-hormuz-explained/

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Claim 14: “International law protects free transit through natural straits like Hormuz, barring countries from imposing passage tolls even where the waterways fall entirely into territorial waters”

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 15: “After Iran closed the waterway on March 4 and began attacks on vessels attempting to sail through, traffic came to a standstill, stranding about 2,000 ships on either side of the strait.”

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.

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Claim 16: “On Wednesday, Iran said it coordinated the transit of 26 vessels through the Strait of Hormuz in 24 hours”

CORROBORATED

Two independent web sources explicitly report that Iranian officials/IRGC claimed to have coordinated the transit of 26 vessels through the waterway in 24 hours on a Wednesday.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has said it coordinated the transit of 26 vessels through the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours, as talks between Washington and Tehran over the res…
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/20/iran-says-it-coordi…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Iranian officials claimed on Wednesday that they coordinated the transit of 26 vessels through the waterway over the past 24 hours. Is the Strait of Hormuz still dangerous?
https://rtrunews.com/news/640276-what-going-on-strait-hormuz…

info

Claim 17: “Eleven weeks after the start of the Iran war, the Strait of Hormuz has remained closed to naval traffic”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists only of dictionary definitions of the word 'strait'. There is no evidence provided regarding the specific duration (eleven weeks) or the current status of naval traffic in the context of a war.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 4 days ago · The meaning of STRAIT is a comparatively narrow passageway connecting two large bodies of water —often used in plural but singular in construction. How to use strait in a sentence. strait…
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strait

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — STRAIT definition: Often straits. a narrow passage of water connecting two large bodies of water. See examples of strait used in a sentence.
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/strait

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — A strait is a water body connecting two seas or water basins. The surface water is, for the most part, at the same elevation on both sides and can flow through the strait in either direction, although…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait

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Claim 18: “Iran’s newly-formed PGSA published a new map of Hormuz, stretching from Kuh-e Mubarak in Iran to south of Fujairah, in the UAE, at the eastern entrance of the strait, and from the tip of Qeshm Island to Umm al-Quwain at the western entrance.”

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

Claim 19: “Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) maintains an iron grip over the narrow, strategic waterway, while a corresponding United States naval blockade on Iranian ports has failed to reopen it.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence provided describes the IRGC as a branch of the Iranian armed forces, but does not confirm the specific claim that they maintain an 'iron grip' over the waterway or that a US naval blockade has failed to reopen it.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), [a] also known domestically as Sepah[b] or Pasdaran[c] and internationally as Iranian Revolutionary Guards, [33] is a multi-service primary force of the I…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Revolutionary_Guard_Co…

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web search NEUTRAL — 2 days ago · The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also called Pasdaran or Sepah, is a branch of the Iranian armed forces that is independent of Iran’s regular army. It was established by Ruho…
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Islamic-Revolutionary-Guard…

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web search NEUTRAL — 1 day ago · Inside Iran’s new power circle: how an IRGC ‘brotherhood’ is steering post-Khamenei politics, security and war strategy after the Israeli airstrike
https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/new-power-circle-meet-irgc-b…

info

Claim 20: “Tehran has reportedly already charged fees as high as $2m per ship for transit since the war started.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists only of dictionary definitions of the word 'since'. There is no evidence regarding transit fees charged by Tehran.

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web search NEUTRAL — 4 days ago · The meaning of SINCE is from a definite past time until now. How to use since in a sentence.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/since

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web search NEUTRAL — SINCE definition: 1. from a particular time in the past until a later time, or until now: 2. from a particular time…. Learn more.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/since

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web search NEUTRAL — Oct 21, 2025 · This table shows various examples of sentences using “since” to denote a specific time frame when an action or state commenced and continues to the present. Each example provides a clea…
https://grammarsolutionhub.com/sentence-examples-using-the-p…

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Claim 21: “About 10 billion cubic feet of LNG per day also used to pass through the strait, worth a further $7.8bn.”

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.