A member of the Iranian Parliament's presiding board, Hossein Ali Haji-Deligani, has stated that countries should pay an annual fee to Iran for fiber-optic cables passing under the Strait of Hormuz.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the Iranian lawmaker highlighted that financial transactions worth hundreds of billions of dollars are carried out through these lines every day. He emphasized that Tehran should leverage its geographical advantages and strategic position to secure economic benefits.
Haji-Deligani further noted that the Strait of Hormuz is a "God-given treasure," similar to other natural resources under Iran's control. According to the official, the proposal aims to generate significant revenue from the global data traffic and financial operations that rely on the infrastructure situated within the Islamic Republic's territorial waters or maritime jurisdiction.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most vital maritime chokepoints, located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. While primarily known as a critical transit route for global oil supplies—accounting for approximately one-fifth of the world's oil consumption—it also serves as a major hub for international telecommunications infrastructure. Any move to impose fees on submarine cables could have significant implications for global digital connectivity and international maritime law, which generally governs the laying and maintenance of cables in international and territorial waters.
