Iran proposes permanent toll for Strait of Hormuz shipping

Investing.com -- Iran is in discussions with Oman to establish a permanent toll system for maritime traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran’s ambassador to France, Mohammad Amin-Nejad.

The proposed system would require ships using the strait to pay fees to cover costs related to navigation management and security provision. Amin-Nejad, speaking in a Bloomberg interview, stated that countries benefiting from the traffic should contribute their share to these expenses.

"Iran and Oman must mobilize all their resources both to provide security services and to manage navigation in the most appropriate manner, prevent pollution, and simply strive to establish an order so that global trade is not subject to disruptions. This will entail costs, and it goes without saying that those who wish to benefit from this traffic must also pay their share," Amin-Nejad said.

The ambassador emphasized that Iran does not currently have a payment or toll system in place. He noted that the Strait of Hormuz is located in Iranian territorial waters and that Iran, as the country with the longest coastline in both the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, bears responsibility for regional security.

Amin-Nejad said the potential costs would be "clear, transparent, reasonable, and logical" and insisted the proposal aligns with Iran’s international commitments. He noted that Iran is not a signatory to the 1982 Montego Bay Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The ambassador stated that maritime traffic has declined following recent military actions, with many ships stopping operations due to high insurance costs. However, he said traffic through the strait has not stopped entirely.

Oman has not yet commented on the proposal.

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