Iran will require shipping companies to pay tolls of $2 million per oil tanker in cryptocurrency during the two-week ceasefire for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a spokesman for the Iranian oil exporters' union.

Hamid Hosseini, spokesman for the Iranian Union of Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Exporters, told the Financial Times that Tehran plans to collect fees from every fully loaded tanker that passes through the strait and will check each cargo for weapons.

$1 per barrel, to be paid in Bitcoin

The toll is $1 per barrel of oil, which can amount to $2 million for a fully loaded supertanker. Empty tankers may pass for free.

Each ship must email the details of the cargo to the Iranian authorities. After that, the ship will receive the toll amount that must be paid in Bitcoin (BTC).

According to Hosseini, the crypto payment window lasts only a few seconds. This is designed to prevent transactions from being tracked or seized under international sanctions.

"Once the email is received and Iran has made its assessment, ships only have a few seconds to pay in Bitcoin, so that the payment cannot be tracked or seized by sanctions," reported FT, referring to Hosseini.

Iran's demand for Bitcoin payments as tolls in the Strait of Hormuz is a direct challenge to the petrodollar system.

By forcing ships to settle in crypto instead of dollars, Tehran circumvents US sanctions and takes a step that could undermine the dollar's dominance in the global oil market.

Military threat supports the toll demand

This step shows that Iran is determined to maintain its influence over this important chokepoint, even as the ceasefire negotiations continue. Hosseini indicated that Tehran wants to require tankers to take the northern route close to the Iranian coast.

This raises doubts about whether Western or Gulf-associated ships dare to take this route.

Tankers in the Gulf received a radio message on Wednesday that ships attempting to sail without Iranian permission risk being attacked by the military.

"If a ship tries to sail without permission, it will be destroyed."

Washington and Tehran on a collision course

This demand puts Iran directly at odds with Washington. President Donald Trump said the ceasefire only applies if Iran agrees to fully, directly, and safely reopen the strait.

Meanwhile, the Iranian Supreme National Security Council has proposed a new protocol for safe passage, coordinated with the armed forces.

The council mentions 10 negotiation points, including military oversight of all transit traffic.

How this conflict ends will determine not only the survival of the ceasefire but also the future of global oil transport through this strategically important strait.