Iran Says Ships That Pay Toll Will Get Priority Passage Through Strait of Hormuz... White House Gets Busy as Vessels Come Under Attack

[The Financial News]  \r\n
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The Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) said on the 18th local time that it would give priority passage to ships that pay a toll, as it moved to block the Strait of Hormuz again.
Cable News Network (CNN) reported the move, citing a senior Iranian official.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it would block the strait starting that night.
The move is being interpreted as a sign that Iran is determined to keep the Strait of Hormuz under its control and use it as a source of revenue.
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Given that only a limited number of vessels will be allowed to pass, Iran has decided to respond more quickly to the new transit procedures for the Strait of Hormuz and give priority to ships that pay for safety services, the official said.
According to the official, ships that do not pay the toll will face delays.
Iran blocked the strait again just one day after reopening it, saying the United States was "repeatedly breaking trust" in the ceasefire agreement between the two sides.
The senior Iranian official said the priority passage policy was one of several efforts by Iran to manage maritime traffic "in line with the new order that governs this strait."
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In a statement posted on Telegram, the IRGC said the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would begin on the night of the 18th.
The statement warned that "approaching the Strait of Hormuz will be regarded as cooperating with the enemy" and that "any vessel that violates this will be targeted."
After Iran briefly reopened the strait on the 17th, more than 10 tankers passed through, but attacks on vessels followed after the announcement of another closure.
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The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it had received a report that a fast attack boat linked to the IRGC attacked a tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz near Oman on the 18th. The Iranian attack boat reportedly fired without warning over radio communication. UKMTO said the vessel and its crew were both safe.
UKMTO also said it received a report that a container ship was hit by a projectile 25 nautical miles north of Oman. Some containers were damaged, but there was no further damage such as fire, the agency said.
The vessels were reportedly told by the Iranian navy over radio that they could not pass through the strait.
Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on the 17th that the Strait of Hormuz would remain open until the ceasefire ended, but Iran's military reversed course a day later, citing the U.S. blockade.
At least 12 tankers are believed to have passed through the strait after it reopened and before the attack reports emerged.
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U.S. President Donald John Trump appears to have remained at the White House over the weekend as he prepared for a second round of talks with Iran.
CNN reported that Trump hosted an event in the Oval Office to sign an executive order on psychedelic treatment, with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in attendance.
Meanwhile, key members of the national security team were seen coming and going from the White House. Shortly after the event, defense minister Pete Hegseth and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe arrived at the White House in succession, CNN said.
Earlier in the morning, a motorcade for Vice President of the United States James David Vance was also seen.
The urgent movements came as Trump weighed his next steps ahead of the midnight deadline on the 21st for the ceasefire with Iran.
Trump said Iran was "playing games" while back-channel talks were under way.
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dympna@fnnews.com Song Kyung-jae Reporter