World
Strait of Hormuz Economic Calculus: Is Paying Iran's Transit Fees Cheaper Than a Blockade?
Eleven weeks into the Iran–US conflict, the Strait of Hormuz remains under Iranian control, causing severe global economic damage. While Western nations condemn Iran's transit fees of up to $2 million per vessel, experts calculate those payments may be cheaper than the costs of stranded ships. The situation has shifted from open war to economic warfare, with complex legal and regional challenges complicating a diplomatic resolution.