How to get through the Strait of Hormuz

What It Covers

Planet Money examines Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz during a US-Iran war, tracing how 20% of global oil supply gets cut off and what a potential toll system means for the future of global trade.

Key Questions Answered

• •Strait of Hormuz toll system: Iran's Revolutionary Guard (Sepah Navy) operates a permission-based transit system requiring ships to submit vessel name, flag country, cargo details, and crew nationality. Ships carrying oil pay approximately $1 per barrel — up to $2 million per voyage — in cryptocurrency with a five-second payment window.
• •Freedom of navigation stakes: For 70+ years, the US Navy has guaranteed free movement across global waterways. If Iran successfully establishes toll authority over the Strait, it signals the end of American maritime dominance, potentially pushing companies toward regional supply chains and nearshore manufacturing in Latin America or domestically.
• •Law of General Average risk: When a ship sustains damage, maritime law distributes repair costs across all cargo owners aboard that vessel proportionally. Shippers with goods on damaged vessels should verify cargo insurance covers general average claims, as liability can reach millions even if their specific cargo is undamaged.
• •Four negotiation outcomes: Current US-Iran talks center on four possible Strait scenarios — fully open with no tolls, Iran-controlled tolls, US-controlled tolls, or a revenue-sharing arrangement. The outcome directly determines global shipping costs, oil prices, and supply chain stability for all trading nations.