STRAIT OF HORMUZ — Iran is forcing oil tankers to take a new route in the Strait of Hormuz through a narrow passage controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to maritime data. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to any ships not explicitly granted permission by Tehran, warning of a severe response for any violators, according to an IRGC statement.

Before Feb. 28, around 110 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz every day, according to Lloyd's List Intelligence data. Since Feb. 28, fewer than 10 ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz each day, according to the same data. At least 25 vessels have taken the narrow channel route between Qeshm and Larak since March 13, according to Lloyd's List tracking.

"Whatever we can detect going out of the strait right now is going through this narrow channel in Iranian territorial waters, where the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps essentially verifies the ship's information and acts almost like a toll booth." said Tomer Raanan, a maritime risk analyst. At least two ships made payments in Chinese yuan to cross the Strait of Hormuz via the narrow channel controlled by Iran, according to Raanan.

The IRGC Navy turned back three Chinese-owned commercial vessels that attempted to transit the Strait of Hormuz, according to an Iranian military statement. MarineTraffic data showed that CSCL Indian Ocean and CSCL Arctic Ocean made a sharp U-turn after attempting to sail past Larak Island.

On the previous day, the Hong Kong-owned vessel Lotus Rising turned around further out from Larak Island after attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, according to MarineTraffic data. The IRGC said that passage of any ship to or from ports it described as belonging to supporters of its opponents is prohibited, according to an IRGC statement.

Iran's parliament is preparing legislation to formalize the toll system for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media. "We provide its security, and it is natural that ships and oil tankers should pay such fees." said Mohammadreza Rezaei Kouchi, a lawmaker, according to state-aligned news agencies.

In a letter to United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, Iran's foreign ministry said the Strait of Hormuz remained open to non-hostile vessels on the condition that they coordinate with Iranian authorities. Jasem Mohamed al-Budaiwi, a Gulf Cooperation Council official, said that Iran was officially charging ships for safe passage through the shipping channel.

The Chinese tanker Bright Gold transited the narrow channel route between Qeshm and Larak on March 23. Video footage posted to Douyin by a crew member of Bright Gold shows the tanker passing between Qeshm and Larak.