Iran has reportedly received the first revenue from tolls it imposed on the strategic Strait of Hormuz in its war with the United States and Israel. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and around 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passes through it.
A senior Iranian parliament official said on Thursday that Tehran has received the first revenue from tolls it imposed on the Strait of Hormuz, the country's Tasnim news agency reported. "The first revenue received from the Strait of Hormuz tolls was deposited into the Central Bank account," said deputy speaker of parliament Hamidreza Hajibabaei, according to Tasnim news agency.
Other Iranian media carried the same statement, without elaborating.
The Strait of Hormuz, a key energy chokepoint, has become a major flashpoint since the outbreak of the Middle East war on February 28. Iran effectively blocked the critical waterway for the US and its allies, while letting ships from the "friendly" nations pass.
US President Donald Trump has been pushing Iran to open the strait before he announced the naval blockade of all Iranian ports.
Iran, which last week, announced the opening of the Strait for all commercial vessels in response to Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, reversed its course in retaliation to the US naval blockade.
Even though, US President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire indefinitely with Iran, Tehran vowed to not open the Strait of Hormuz.
Before the announcement of revenue from tolls, Iran's parliament had been deciding whether to impose them on shipping through the strait, with Iranian officials warning that maritime traffic through the strait would "not return to its pre-war status".
On March 30, Iranian state media said the parliament's security commission had approved plans to impose tolls, but it was not clear if a final parliamentary vote on the proposal had taken place.
Britain, France and military planners from over 30 countries have held talks to protect navigation through the strait, with Paris and London saying they would lead a multinational mission as "soon as conditions allow".
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