Greek shipping tycoon backs Iran transit fee proposal for strait of Hormuz
Prominent Greek shipping magnate Evangelos Marinakis has expressed support for the introduction of an Iranian transit fee in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, arguing that such a measure could help guarantee the waterway remains open to global shipping.
Speaking at a maritime forum in Athens on Tuesday, Marinakis said he would be willing to pay a cargo-dependent transit fee of up to $200,000 per voyage if it ensured uninterrupted passage through the vital shipping corridor. He suggested that revenues generated from the toll could help compensate Iran for damages sustained during the recent US-Israeli conflict.
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The billionaire businessman, whose fleet comprises more than 150 vessels, stated that paying a transit fee would be preferable to facing prolonged maritime disruptions, security risks, and potential blockades in one of the world’s most important energy and trade routes.
Marinakis’ remarks contrast sharply with the positions of the United States and the Greek government. Both the Trump administration and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis have opposed any Iranian move to impose transit charges on vessels navigating the strait.
The issue has exposed divisions within the global shipping industry. While some shipping executives, including fellow Greek tycoon George Procopiou, have rejected the idea of a toll, industry sources claim that certain vessels have already been quietly paying transit fees to Iran, reportedly using Chinese yuan, to secure safe passage.
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Iran has continued to advocate for the right to impose a transit fee as part of any post-war settlement arrangement. Tehran is also seeking cooperation from Oman, which shares control of the narrow 21-nautical-mile waterway, to advance the proposal.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically significant maritime chokepoints, handling a substantial share of global oil and gas shipments.
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