Rejecting Trump’s claims, Iran says it will ‘definitely’ charge fees for Hormuz passage

Iranian envoy says Tehran will press ahead with plans to impose fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz despite US opposition.

By World Israel News Staff

Iran’s ambassador to China said Tehran will “definitely” charge service fees on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, signaling that a key dispute with Washington remains unresolved despite an interim arrangement that reopened the vital energy chokepoint.

Speaking Saturday at the World Peace Forum in Beijing, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said Iran was working with Oman on “new arrangements” for the waterway, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and normally carries a major share of global energy exports.

“As a country where the Hormuz is part of its territorial waters, we will definitely charge service fees,” Fazli said in translated remarks, while insisting the charges would not amount to a “toll.”

He said the fees would be tied to “guaranteeing the security of passage,” supervising vessel movements and addressing “the environmental consequences of the massive number of ships” passing through the strait.

Fazli also said Tehran would consider preferential treatment for countries that supported Iran during the recent conflict.

“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.

The remarks appeared aimed in part at China, Iran’s key economic partner and a major buyer of Iranian oil. According to Bloomberg, Fazli said Beijing and other friendly governments would receive “special considerations” as Tehran determines the level and structure of the proposed charges.

The United States has rejected Iran’s claim that it can impose fees on vessels transiting Hormuz. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month that the strait is an international waterway and that no country may charge tolls or fees for passage.

“It’s an international waterway. No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway,” Rubio said during a regional visit to the United Arab Emirates.

The dispute centers on how to interpret the interim US-Iran arrangement that followed months of war involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

Under the initial deal, commercial ships are to pass through the strait without charge for 60 days while broader negotiations continue.

Tehran, however, has argued that the arrangement leaves open the question of future “maritime services” and the administration of the waterway.

Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority said in June that planned fees would be suspended during the 60-day negotiating period but also said ships would have to submit transit requests at least 48 hours before arrival and coordinate routes and timing in advance.

The authority said the coordination was necessary because of security, safety, environmental and insurance-related concerns.

Reuters reported last week that senior Iranian sources said Tehran was determined to win recognition of its authority over Hormuz, including the ability to levy fees, and could resume charging ships in mid-August if the interim arrangement is not extended.

The sources said Iran views the strait as its strongest postwar leverage point and will not move to other areas of negotiation until the future of Hormuz is settled.

The strait’s status is especially sensitive because it lies between Iran and Oman and is widely regarded as an international strait under customary maritime law.

Before the war, it carried roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. Its closure during the conflict sharply disrupted shipping and helped drive energy prices higher.

Iran has argued that it is not seeking a simple transit toll, but rather compensation for services tied to navigation, safety, environmental protection and security. Washington says that distinction is semantic if ships are required to pay in order to pass.