During the two-week ceasefire with the United States, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is requesting that vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz pay tolls in cryptocurrencies or Chinese yuan in advance. According to The Wall Street Journal, some crews have reported hearing broadcasts warning that ships without approval risk being targeted.
According to shipping data supplied by industry participants, only a few vessels have been allowed through on certain days this week.
What Iran Asks for

• Advance notification of cargo and vessel data via email
• Transit permission goes through Iranian officials.
• Payments made in advance, in Bitcoin or Chinese yuan.
• Use a northerly path close to Iran's coast, between the Qeshm and Larak islands.
• Tiered treatment: friendly cargo passes easier, while others encounter delays or denial

One Iranian industry representative told The Financial Times that laden tankers could face a $1 per barrel penalty, but empty ships could pass freely. According to the article, supertankers might face bills in the millions of dollars, depending on their size and cargo.
Why Crypto and Yuan?
Iran is subject to strict US and European sanctions. Dollar payments are problematic. Cryptocurrency is more difficult to trace. Yuan settlements minimise exposure to Western banking rails.Regional authorities said yuan collections had already begun in certain cases, causing concern among Gulf producers who fear a shift in oil trade power away from Western systems.
The Gulf was regarded as a "car park" by shipping CEOs. Many owners are waiting for clarification before risking passage.
Legal and geopolitical friction
Tolls in man-made canals such as the Suez and Panama Canal are permitted under international maritime law. However, it prohibits charging for transit across natural waterways like the Hormuz.
Gulf governments have complained, claiming that the plan violates the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea's freedom of navigation provisions.
According to mediators reported by the WSJ, Oman, which is across the channel from Iran, has yet to agree to any fee-sharing arrangement.A New Lever for Tehran.
According to analysts, Iran has translated wartime dominance into peacetime leverage. Controlling the Strait of Hormuz now provides Tehran with persistent, visible pressure on global markets without firing a single shot.
Iran's foreign minister has stated that traffic during the truce will be controlled by the country's armed forces. US authorities published the words on social media, highlighting how important the waterway has become in peace discussions.
Market Impact Beyond Oil

• Fertilisers and petrochemicals pass through this road
• Helium shipments needed in semiconductor manufacturing travel via here.
• Food prices and goods insurance rates are already reacting.
• Traders warn that even if the ceasefire persists, the approval mechanism is so slow that normal flows will not restart immediately.
  Why Does This Complicate Peace Talks?
  The US has publicly advocated for a completely open strait. Gulf producers seek unhindered exports. Iran seeks monitoring authority and revenue.
  This fight is now at the center of negotiations for a lengthier truce. According to one marine risk expert who spoke with the FT, the present licensing procedure makes it impossible to clear the vessel backlog in two weeks.