The Iranian parliament is seeking to pass legislation to collect tolls for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, Al Jazeera reports citing the Fars and Tasnim news agencies.

The reports cited the chairman of the parliament’s Civil Affairs Committee as saying that a draft law has now been prepared and will soon be finalised by the legislature’s legal team.

“According to this plan, Iran must collect fees to ensure the security of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz,” the official was quoted as saying.

“This is completely natural. Just as in other corridors, when goods pass through a country, duties are paid; the Strait of Hormuz is also a corridor. We ensure its security, and it is natural for ships and tankers to pay its duties,” he added.