Tehran: Iran has said countries it considers friendly will receive special treatment under a planned fee system for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran continues negotiations over the future management of the strategically important waterway.
Speaking at the World Peace Forum in Beijing, Iran’s Ambassador to China, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, said Tehran would introduce service fees for ships using the strait while working with Oman on new arrangements governing maritime traffic.
Who will receive preferential treatment?
Fazli said Iran would extend “special treatment” to countries that maintained friendly relations with Tehran and stood by it during recent regional tensions.
“We will definitely consider special treatment for the countries that were friendly to us and specially stood by us during the hard times,” he said, without specifying which countries would qualify for the preferential arrangements.
Why does Iran say the fees are necessary?
According to the Iranian envoy, the proposed charges would not constitute transit tolls but service fees intended to finance security, vessel supervision and environmental protection measures in the Strait of Hormuz.
Fazli said the new arrangements were being developed in cooperation with Oman and would focus on ensuring safe navigation through one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints.
What is the current arrangement for commercial shipping?
The initial agreement reached between Iran and the United States following the recent conflict allows commercial vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz free of charge for 60 days.
However, it remains unclear what mechanism will replace the temporary arrangement once the grace period expires, with the future governance of the waterway remaining a key issue in ongoing indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
Why is the Strait of Hormuz strategically important?
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, carrying around one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Maritime traffic through the waterway was severely disrupted during the recent Middle East conflict after Iran effectively blocked commercial passage, sending global energy prices sharply higher. Shipping resumed following the initial ceasefire agreement, although negotiations over the strait’s long-term management continue.
What concerns remain over Iran’s proposal?
Iran’s proposal has been rejected by the United States, which maintains that the Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway and opposes the imposition of transit charges.
The future administration of the strait remains one of the principal unresolved issues in the broader negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent settlement following the ceasefire.