Jackie Northam

An Iranian lawmaker says the fee for a ship to pass through the Strait of Hormuz could cost up to $2 million.

It will involve government-to-government negotiations, getting permits, and transiting through Iranian territorial water.

The toll system is still being formalized and currently appears ad hoc.

Analysts say some ships, including those from India, Pakistan and China, have worked out deals diplomatically.

Iranian-owned and flagged vessels won't be charged, and any ship with links to the U.S.

or Israel will not be allowed to pass full stop.

Analysts say it's unlikely a toll system similar to the Suez Canal would get regional buy-in, and that opening the strait through diplomacy is still the best answer.

Jackie Northam, NPR News.

Well, the shipping analysts and crisis management groups that I've spoken with say it starts actually with government-to-government negotiations.

And if Iran agrees that a ship can sail through the Strait of Hormuz, it's given a code which will be broadcast over VHF radio to the Iranian Navy.

And then the ship will be escorted.

escorted into Iranian territorial waters, then on through this strait, which is international waterway.

A senior Iranian lawmaker suggested the fees could be upwards of $2 million per vessel.

I spoke with Jack Kennedy, and he's with S&P Global Market Intelligence, and he says this toll system, Steve, is really about Iran trying to claim sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

And, you know, at the moment, Steve, the toll system seems ad hoc.

Some ships, including those from India and Pakistan and China, have worked out deals diplomatically, and any Iranian-owned or flagged vessel won't be charged.

And any ship with links to the U.S.

or Israel will not be allowed to pass full stop.

And, you know, analysts say it's unlikely this system is going to work.

You know, it would be hard to get regional buy-in to have something like the