BREAKING: Iran Officials Express Frustration Over Limited Revenue From Strait Of Hormuz Shipping Plan

As reported by The Times of Israel on April 16, 2026, senior officials in Iran have reportedly grown increasingly dissatisfied with a plan aimed at generating revenue from maritime traffic in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. According to sources familiar with the matter who spoke to Iran International, expectations of substantial income from the initiative have not materialized.

The plan, introduced early in the ongoing conflict, sought to capitalize on Iran’s influence over the strait by imposing transit fees on oil tankers, with charges reportedly set at around two million dollars per permit.

Oversight of the initiative was assigned to a committee led by Mohammad-Bagher Zolghadr, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. Despite the strategic importance of the waterway and the ambitious financial projections tied to the plan, its implementation has faced significant shortcomings.

Sources indicate that only around sixty permits have been issued, while payment requests have been sent for just eight shipments. Notably, no funds have yet been collected, a situation attributed to what insiders describe as weak management and ineffective execution of the policy.

The limited results have reportedly sparked concern at the highest levels of government, including within the office of Iran’s supreme leader. In response, discussions are said to be underway regarding possible leadership changes, including the removal of Zolghadr from his current role.

There is also consideration of transferring responsibility for the initiative to President Masoud Pezeshkian, signaling a potential shift in approach as authorities seek to address the plan’s shortcomings and reassess its viability.