The issue of potential fees on ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz is at the forefront of regional discussions, amid a clear difference in views between the Sultanate of Oman and Iran, after agreeing on a temporary truce.
The Omani Minister of Transport, Saeed Al-Maawali, stressed his country’s commitment to international treaties that prohibit the imposition of any fees, stressing that freedom of navigation is a basic principle that cannot be waived. He also pointed out the existence of a “legal vacuum” due to the failure of some countries, such as Iran and the United States, to sign all international maritime transport agreements.
On the other hand, Tehran defends a proposal to impose varying fees depending on the type of ship and its cargo as part of a political settlement, and describes this step as aiming to regulate navigation traffic, not restrict it.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, revealed work on preparing a protocol that includes obtaining prior licenses to facilitate traffic.
In a notable development, US President Donald Trump stated that his country is studying the possibility of implementing a joint project with Iran to impose transit fees as a way to secure the Strait.
For their part, regional countries expressed their categorical rejection of this proposal. The United Arab Emirates stressed the need to maintain freedom of navigation without any restrictions, while Qatar stressed the right of countries in the region to use the strait freely, demanding that financial discussions be postponed until the situation stabilizes in this shipping lane, through which about 20% of global oil supplies pass.
