Iran's ambassador to China insisted on Saturday that vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz would pay new fees, a proposal Washington has rejected outright. Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli told the World Peace Forum in Beijing that nations friendly to Tehran would receive preferential rates.
The temporary arrangement between Iran and the United States allows commercial ships 60 days of free passage through the waterway, but what happens beyond that remains uncertain. Rahmani Fazli said Iran was collaborating with Oman to develop "new arrangements" for managing the strategic corridor.
"As a country where the Hormuz is part of its territorial waters, we will definitely charge service fees," he told the forum, according to translated remarks. He clarified that these charges wouldn't function as a traditional toll.
The ambassador explained that the fees would fund security patrols, vessel supervision, and environmental protection measures along the busy shipping lane. "We will definitely consider special treatment for the countries that were friendly to us and specially stood by us during the hard times," he added.
The strait typically handles about a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas exports. During the Middle East conflict, Iran had effectively blocked the waterway, triggering sharp increases in energy prices worldwide.
Iran reopened the Hormuz after reaching the initial ceasefire deal with the United States. Talks continue between both nations on a permanent end to the regional hostilities.
