Is Iran charging a toll to allow oil traffic through Hormuz?

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that oil exports from the Middle East have rebounded above pre-war levels even as tensions remain high around the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route. The article says provisional Kpler data showed regional crude shipments exceeded earlier benchmarks on several days in late September, while prices stayed elevated because of security risks, insurance costs and the possibility of renewed conflict.

The central question raised in the piece is whether Iran is effectively charging a fee for safe passage through the strait. A Kpler analyst, Michelle Brohard, suggested some Gulf states may be paying Iran to let tankers pass, but Al Jazeera notes that this was presented as speculation and not independently verified. The report also cites earlier reporting by Lloyd’s List describing what it called a “toll booth” system imposed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, while Iranian officials reject claims that they have lost control of the waterway.

The article says a growing share of crude is now moving by alternative routes or through ship-to-ship transfers, and that US escorts have helped tankers leave the area. It also notes that the figures exclude some vessels that may have switched off tracking devices. The issue matters because Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints, and any informal payment or disruption could affect freight costs, supply security and global energy markets.