Agencies | Beijing:
Iran is planning to introduce new service fees for commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, with countries that supported Tehran during the recent conflict expected to receive preferential treatment, Iran’s ambassador to China said on Saturday.
Speaking at the World Peace Forum in Beijing, Ambassador Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said Iran was working with Oman on new arrangements for managing maritime traffic through the strategically significant waterway. His remarks come despite the United States rejecting the idea of Iran imposing charges on ships using the strait.
Under a temporary agreement reached between Iran and the United States to end the recent conflict, commercial vessels were permitted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without charge for 60 days. However, it remains unclear what mechanism will replace the interim arrangement once that period expires.
“As a country where the Hormuz is part of its territorial waters, we will definitely charge service fees,” Fazli said, while stressing that the proposed charges should not be viewed as a “toll.”
According to the ambassador, the fees would cover services related to ensuring the safe passage of ships, monitoring maritime traffic and addressing the environmental impact caused by heavy commercial navigation through the strait.
“We will definitely consider special treatment for the countries that were friendly to us and especially stood by us during the hard times,” he added.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy transit routes, carrying nearly one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas exports.
The strategic waterway was largely closed by Iran during the recent Middle East conflict, disrupting global energy supplies and contributing to a sharp increase in international oil prices.
Iran later reopened the strait after reaching an initial ceasefire agreement with the United States. Negotiations between Tehran and Washington on a permanent post-conflict settlement are continuing, although no final agreement has yet been announced.
