Iran, Oman Refuse to Rule Out Charging ‘Costs’ to Cross Strait of Hormuz — and claim Sovereignty Over Key Waterway
By Ryan King
WASHINGTON — Iran and Oman announced Tuesday they would jointly handle issues related to future navigation of the Strait of Hormuz and “the costs associated with them” — even as the Trump administration publicly insisted that Tehran can’t charge tolls.
Oman and Iran sit on opposite sides of the southern entrance of the strait, and their vague joint statement raised fears that the two countries may try to collect money from ships traveling through the vital waterway.
The two countries said in a joint statement they had “agreed to maintain their dialogue on this issue through a joint working group … in order to reach agreement on the future administration of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the services that will be provided in this regard and the costs associated with them in accordance with international standards.”
Over recent months, Iran has publicly threatened to charge ship operators a toll to cross the Strait of Hormuz, though it recently changed its language to describe the charges as fees for unspecified services.
Nearly a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil supplies flow through the Strait of Hormuz annually.
Since the Trump administration sealed a memorandum of understanding with Iran last week, ships have begun traversing the waterway once again, though at rates below pre-war levels.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted after landing in the United Arab Emirates as part of a two-day swing through the Middle East Tuesday that “no country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway.”
“That’s existing international law, that’s the way it is,” he added. “I don’t think we have anybody to convince around here in that regard. I think all the countries in this region would agree with us.”
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi publicly said Monday that his country and Iran had affirmed their commitment to “toll-free safe passage” through the Strait of Hormuz following high-level meetings.
However, it was not immediately clear whether Al Busaidi meant that policy would only remain in effect during the 60-day window for the US and Iran to negotiate a final peace deal
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also met with Albusaidi and Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq this week.
Oman practices a “friends to all, enemies to none” foreign policy and has maintained friendly ties to both Iran and the West.
Al Busaidi mediated unsuccessful talks between the US and Iran prior to the launch of Operation Epic Fury Feb. 28.
Recently, Iran has pushed commercial shipping vessels seeking to traverse the critical waterway to register with a newly formed agency in Tehran, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority.
But Western insurance underwriters are pushing against compliance, The Post previously reported.
There are concerns that free access through the straits won’t recover to the pre-war levels until negotiators address those Iranian mandates.
“The current Iranian proposal or directive is unacceptable and not workable for commercial shipping,” one insider previously explained to The Post. “No country can unilaterally assert its jurisdiction over international waters. That has to be respected. If it isn’t, you will not get transit back to pre-war levels. It’s not possible.”
Iran is pushing for ships to purchase insurance, calling it “free” during the 60-day extended cease-fire period under the MOU.
But critics believe Iran is merely just setting the stage for jacking up mandatory insurance rates on vessels in the future.
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