Nearly eight months into the Iran war, the headlines are about carrier groups and stalled talks. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly ordered Iran’s delegation out of New York last week, and a third U.S. carrier group is reportedly headed to the region. Beneath the military drama sit bookkeeping questions that will outlast the fighting: If ships must pay to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, who sets the price, who collects the money, and who checks the books?

The stakes are substantial. Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas moves through the strait. Since spring, Tehran has pressed for fees, sometimes insisting they are “service fees” rather than tolls. After the April truce, ships reportedly paid about $2 million apiece. Shipping industry reporting later put Iran’s ask at 5% to 7% of cargo value, with Oman discussing roughly 3%. Washington wants no fees at all.