Kpler’s head of policy and geopolitical risk, Michelle Brohard, said she suspects certain Gulf producers have quietly struck deals to pay Iran a toll, possibly 10 to 20 percent of cargo value, to keep their tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz as U.S. military escorts look unsustainable. Her claims remain unverified, though IG Group analyst Chris Beauchamp said undisclosed payments appear to be happening under the radar. The suspicion matters because Washington has opposed Iranian transit charges, sanctioned the financial network behind the Hormuz payment system, and warned Tehran against imposing tolls.
Kpler suspects Gulf producers are paying Iran for safe passage
Kpler analyst Michelle Brohard says she suspects Gulf producers are quietly paying Iran a toll of up to 20 percent of cargo value for safe passage through Hormuz.
Why it matters: If confirmed, secret payments would put Gulf exporters at odds with Washington's sanctions posture and add a hidden tax to crude still trading near $100 a barrel.
Data as of October 7, 2026. Claims are unverified and single-sourced to the Kpler interview in OilPrice; Beauchamp's remarks secondhand via the same article
Sources
- Kpler Suspects Gulf Producers Are Paying Iran for Safe Passage · OilPrice.com · 2026-10-07
- US convoying ships as Iran quietly charges tolls, analyst tells Al Jazeera · IG Group via Al Jazeera · 2026-10-07