TEHRAN — Iranian lawmakers unveiled plans this week to establish a comprehensive toll system for commercial vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz, potentially transforming one of the world's most vital shipping lanes into a revenue-generating checkpoint for the Islamic Republic.

Tehran representative Somayeh Rafiei announced the parliamentary initiative during Thursday sessions, outlining a framework that would compel foreign shipping companies to remit transit fees in exchange for guaranteed safe passage. The proposed legislation represents Iran's most direct attempt to monetize its geographic control over the narrow waterway that separates the Persian Gulf from the Gulf of Oman.

"This represents a fundamental shift in how Iran views its sovereign rights over these waters," said Dr. Kamran Bokhari, director of analytical development at the Newlines Institute. "Tehran is essentially proposing to treat the strait like the Suez Canal, where passage comes with mandatory fees." International maritime law experts question whether such unilateral toll collection would violate freedom of navigation principles established under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The timing coincides with heightened regional tensions following recent Iranian naval exercises and increased Revolutionary Guard patrols near shipping lanes. Energy markets have already shown sensitivity to Hormuz-related disruptions, with crude oil futures climbing 3.2 percent following initial reports of the parliamentary proposal. "Iran is testing international resolve at a moment when global supply chains remain vulnerable," noted Sarah Vakil, senior research fellow at Chatham House's Middle East Programme.