Fox host suggests to the White House imposing a $20 million protection fee per ship, generating $100 billion annually!

He argues this would also severely penalize countries like China that are unwilling to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz. Tyson calculated: Iran currently charges $2 million per vessel; the U.S. could charge the same amount in parallel. He refers to this revenue as "escort fees."

He further explained that the income would be extremely substantial—reaching $9 billion monthly, totaling $100 billion annually. To distinguish between "friends" and "bystanders," he proposed exemption clauses: any country joining the U.S.-led "Open Strait Alliance" would have its vessels exempted from payment.

Multiple media outlets cited informed sources confirming that some ships have already paid up to $2 million to Iran for smooth passage. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy is responsible for enforcement. Ships must apply for passage permits; upon approval, they are guided by Iranian tugboats along a designated route close to Larak Island—a path that facilitates visual inspection and monitoring by Iran. Data shows a sharp decline in cargo ship traffic through the strait in March, with daily numbers dropping to single digits, starkly contrasting the hundreds of ships seen during peacetime.

Tyson’s proposal precisely aligns with the White House’s current anxieties. Although his idea sounds like science fiction, it reflects a potential negotiation direction. Analysts point out that within the White House, a proposal once circulated: a joint U.S.-Iran management of the strait, with shared toll collection and profit-sharing based on agreed ratios.

The potential annual revenue of up to $100 billion is appealing to both sides. For the U.S., it could alleviate fiscal crises; for Iran, it would serve as de facto war compensation, aiding economic reconstruction. Currently, countries such as Pakistan and Turkey are actively mediating. The focus of negotiations has shifted from "whether to open" to "how to open" and "who should manage." The Strait of Hormuz is transforming from an international waterway into a major bargaining chip and a potentially lucrative revenue source.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861599559598155/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.