Officials say ship transit charges have been deposited, reject cryptocurrency claims

By Sadiq Abdulfatah

Iran’s central bank says it has received revenue from newly introduced transit fees for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, confirming that the payments were made in cash currency.

The Central Bank of Iran said the funds have been deposited into its accounts, ending earlier media speculation that the payments were being made in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.

According to the Fars news agency, officials described the process as transparent and part of Iran’s management of the strategic waterway.

Iran’s Deputy Parliament Speaker Hamidreza Hajibabaee also announced that the first revenue from the transit fees has already been credited to the central bank.

Speaking at a public event, he said the Strait of Hormuz belongs to Iran and that ships using it must pay fees in Iranian currency for passing through what he described as Iranian territorial waters.

He warned that if the United States continues what he called aggressive policies, some vessels may be stopped from using the waterway. He also claimed that two ships have already been seized for violations.

Hajibabaee further said Iran’s control of the strait is a key national achievement, adding that a large share of the world’s oil and gas passes through the route, making it very important for the global economy.

He said Iran will not enter negotiations from a position of weakness and insisted that the country’s defence and nuclear capabilities remain sovereign rights that will continue to be strengthened.

Source: Press TV