Some leading European countries acknowledge that ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz may be forced to pay fees to Iran and Oman.
Bloomberg reports, citing sources.
According to the agency’s sources, after the end of the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran, the introduction of certain service charges looks “inevitable.” Some officials in Persian Gulf countries have voiced a similar view in private conversations, although this is not the official position of their governments.
It is currently unclear what the size or format of such fees might be. At the same time, the United States and Arab states of the Persian Gulf insist that Iran and Oman have no right to charge for passage through international waters, as this could set a dangerous precedent for other strategic sea lanes.
European countries, for their part, stress that any rules must not discriminate against ships on the basis of nationality. In addition, the United Kingdom, France and other countries support creating an international maritime coalition to clear mines in the Strait of Hormuz, but implementation of this initiative will depend on further negotiations between the United States and Iran.
The government of Bahrain stated categorically that it had neither supported nor discussed the possibility of introducing any fees.
“Free and unimpeded passage of international vessels through the strait is a matter of international law, not a subject for negotiation,” Bahrain stressed.
According to Bloomberg, Oman is proposing to consider the model of the Strait of Malacca, where Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore coordinate shipping security, and funding for navigation and security measures is provided through a special fund.
Following the recent temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has gradually resumed, and oil exports, including from Saudi Arabia and Iran, have begun to rise.
At the same time, Tehran insists on maintaining a certain degree of control over vessel traffic through this strategic maritime corridor.