Iran has denied reports that it was imposing a $2 million levy on cargo vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, even as it thanked India for its support to its people as the West Asian war rages.
The Iranian Embassy in India officially dismissed suggestions in media reports that Tehran had imposed the $2-million levy on cargo vessels traversing through the Hormuz Strait, a narrow maritime passage in the Gulf region that its military had taken control of on February 28 after airstrikes by the US and Israel.
The US and Israel combined airstrikes on February 28 that triggered the war with Iran had killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, resulting in military retaliation by Tehran, disrupting maritime traffic in the Hormuz Strait.
“In response to certain claims regarding the alleged receipt of a sum of 2 million dollars by the Islamic Republic of Iran from vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, it is emphasized that such claims are unfounded,” Iran’s Embassy in India posted on X on Monday (March 23, 2026).
The Iranian embassy’s statement came in response to media reports that attributed the $2-million levy on merchant ships passing through the Hormuz Strait to Iran’s lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi.
However, Tehran denied the reports, noting that the legislator’s remarks were not sanctioned by the regime. “The statements made in this regard merely reflect the personal views of individuals and do not, in any way, represent the official position of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the statement clarified.
On February 28, after the US-Israel airstrikes, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps had announced that it had taken control of the Hormuz Strait and would not allow cargo ships safe passage through the water body, which resulted in a disruption in energy supplies globally, triggering a sharp spike in oil and gas prices.
The latest statement came after US President Donald Trump on Saturday (March 21) set a 48-hour ultimatum on Iran to vacate the blockade of the Hormuz Strait, threatening to strike at Iranian power plants to disrupt electricity supplies.
Iran’s government, in response, said the key maritime route was open to cargo traffic, except for ships from “enemy” nations, but would be “completely closed” if the US acted on its threats.
In a direct counter-ultimatum, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf posted on X that any strike against the nation’s infrastructure would trigger a massive response.
Qalibaf warned that if Iran’s power plants are targeted, vital facilities across the region, including energy and desalination facilities, would be viewed as legitimate targets and subsequently “irreversibly destroyed.”
Meanwhile, the Iranian Embassy in India on Saturday (March 21) thanked the “kindness” and “humanity” of Indians, who had donated money and jewellery to rebuild Iran following the US-Israel airstrikes.
“We will never forget your kindness and humanity. Thank you, India,” the embassy posted on X. “With hearts full of gratitude, we sincerely thank the kind people of Kashmir for standing with the people of Iran through their humanitarian support and heartfelt solidarity; this kindness will never be forgotten. Thank you, India,” it added.
“A respected sister from Kashmir donated the gold kept as a memento of her husband, who passed away 28 years ago, with a heart full of love and solidarity for the people of Iran. Your tears and pure emotions are the greatest source of comfort for the people of Iran and will never be forgotten. Thank you, Kashmir. Thank you, India,” the embassy post read.
“Even Kashmiri children are offering their piggy banks as gifts to Iran. God bless you,” it added.