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BEIJING — Iran’s ambassador to China has said that new fees will be charged to ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, an idea rejected by Washington, while adding that "friendly" nations would receive special treatment.
The initial agreement between Iran and the United States to end the recent conflict reportedly stipulated that commercial vessels would transit the strait free of charge for 60 days, although arrangements beyond that period remain unclear.
Iranian Ambassador Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli told the World Peace Forum in Beijing that Tehran was working in "collaboration and cooperation" with Oman on "new arrangements" for the strategic waterway.
"As a country where the Hormuz is part of its territorial waters, we will definitely charge service fees," Rahmani Fazli said in translated remarks, stressing that such payments would not constitute a "toll".
He said the proposed framework would focus on "guaranteeing the security of passage through the Strait of Hormuz, supervision of the passage of vessels, and also addressing environmental consequences arising from the large number of ships".
"We will definitely consider special treatment for the countries that were friendly to us and stood by us during difficult times," he added.
The Strait of Hormuz typically carries around one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas. It was partially disrupted during the recent Middle East conflict, contributing to a spike in global energy prices.
Iran later lifted its blockade of the strait following the initial agreement with the US to end the conflict. Negotiations on a longer-term settlement remain ongoing.
