Iran requires payment of the toll in bitcoin for ships wishing to pass through it. How much does each barrel of oil cost?
Iran is demanding cryptocurrency fees from shipping companies for oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz in its bid to establish full control over the passage of ships through the energy-critical waterway during the two-week truce.
Hamid Hosseini, a spokesman for the Iran Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Exporters Association, told the Financial Times that Tehran wants to levy taxes and inspect every oil tanker that passes through.
“Iran needs to monitor what comes in and what comes out of the strait to make sure that these two weeks are not used for transporting weapons,” Hosseini said.
“Procedures will take some time for each ship and Iran is in no rush”
“Everything can be completed, but the procedures will take time for each ship, and Iran is in no hurry,” he added.
Decisions on the conditions of passage of ships are made by Iran's Supreme National Security Council.
Hosseini's remarks suggest Tehran will force every tanker to use the northern route near its coast, raising questions about whether Western or Gulf-affiliated ships would be willing to risk a passage.
It should be noted that on Wednesday evening, Iran announced that it was stopping the passage of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli attacks on Lebanon.
First the email address and then “account”
Before the disruption, Hosseini said that every oil tanker that passes must send an email to the authorities about its cargo, and then Iran will inform them of the fees they have to pay in digital currencies.
He said the tariff is $1 per barrel of oil, adding that empty oil tankers can pass freely.
“Once the email arrives and Iran completes its assessment, the ships have seconds to pay in bitcoin, ensuring they cannot be seized due to sanctions,” Hosseini added.
“If any ship tries to pass without permission, it will be destroyed”
Tanks in the Gulf received a radio message on Wednesday warning them that they would be the target of military attacks unless they first received approval from Iranian authorities.
“If any vessel attempts to pass without permission, [va] be destroyed,” read the message broadcast in English, according to an audio recording shared by the FT.
The issue of passage through the straits is one of the thorniest issues facing negotiators in their bid to turn the temporary truce into a lasting peace, with Iran's desire to maintain its influence over the key waterway clashing with fierce opposition from US allies in the Gulf.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday night that the ceasefire was conditional on “the agreement of the Islamic Republic of Iran to FULLY, IMMEDIATELY and SAFELY OPEN the Strait of Hormuz,” according to a social media post.
