The Wall Street Journal reported on June 25 that Iran is explaining its proposal to Gulf nations and China regarding the service fees in the Hormuz Strait. Iran is reportedly seeking to share the revenue with neighboring Gulf countries to gain regional consensus.
Iran is referencing Turkey's practice of charging fees for vessel passage through the Dardanelles Strait, where Turkey is allowed to levy charges for sanitation, lighthouse, and rescue services under the 1936 Montreux Convention.
Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Iran's chief negotiator, visited Oman on June 24 to discuss future management of the Hormuz Strait. He stated, "Everyone must understand that the management of the strait will never return to the pre-war methods."
The United States has opposed Iran's toll proposal for the Hormuz Strait. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during a visit to the Middle East, asserted, "No country on Earth has the right to charge fees for the use of international waterways," adding that such conditions would not be acceptable in any agreement. He warned that if tolls or fees set a precedent, it could lead to chaos in other international waterways.
However, the Dardanelles Strait is an exception based on a separate international treaty. The U.S. maintains that this fee structure cannot be applied to the Hormuz Strait, which lacks such a treaty basis.
Oman has also reiterated its principle of free passage without tolls. The Omani government announced that it would coordinate with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to provide a temporary safe route near its coast. The Omani Foreign Minister stated during a meeting with Secretary Rubio that tolls would not be included in future management plans for the Hormuz Strait.
The U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement guarantees free passage for vessels in the Hormuz Strait for 60 days. The agreement reportedly includes provisions for Iran's involvement in mine clearance and normalization of passage. However, Iran believes it has secured the right to participate in future discussions on strait management.
Traffic through the Hormuz Strait is showing signs of recovery. Vessel tracking companies reported that approximately 70 ships passed through the strait on June 25, the highest number since the outbreak of war. Before the conflict, an average of about 130 tankers transited the Hormuz Strait daily.
Concerns about safety remain. On June 26, a cargo ship near the Omani coast was struck by an unidentified projectile, damaging its deck but causing no casualties.
Iran is requiring vessels to register in advance before transiting the strait. It has also warned that passage outside designated routes is dangerous and prohibited. Reports indicate that Iran is insisting that ships use insurance providers designated by the Iranian government.
The Hormuz Strait is a crucial international energy transport route, accounting for about 20% of global oil shipments. Discussions are expected to continue regarding the imposition of tolls, management authority, safe route operations, and insurance and registration procedures until a final agreement is reached.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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