Iran to Charge Service Fees for Ships in Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s ambassador to China said Saturday that the country will charge service fees for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli spoke at the World Peace Forum in Beijing and stated that China and other friendly nations will receive special considerations in setting the level and type of fees. Fazli said the fees would not constitute a toll.

He added that Iran is working with Oman on new arrangements covering security of passage, vessel supervision, and environmental consequences. Iran and Oman have formed a joint committee to decide how the strait will be managed. An initial deal signed last month by Iran and the United States required commercial ships to transit the strait free of charge for 60 days.

The United States has stated that Iran will not be permitted to charge tolls or fees under any final agreement. In peacetime, one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas moved through the strait. Iran closed the strait during the war launched by the United States and Israel in late February.

The United States imposed a naval blockade on Iran’s southern ports in April. Fazli noted that the four-month conflict turned the strait into a security issue.