Europe is reviewing proposals that could allow navigational fees to be charged in the Strait of Hormuz, as long as the tolls are voluntary and backed by the UN agency that oversees maritime transport.
Britain’s deputy prime minister, David Lammy, said imposing mandatory tolls would be disastrous. However, some of his cabinet colleagues acknowledged that payment systems for specific navigation services are allowed in many natural waterways, including the Strait of Malacca and the English Channel.
This comes as US officials demanded that Iran make a public statement declaring the Strait of Hormuz open and that ships using this vital route will no longer be attacked. US officials blamed internal power struggles in Tehran for the difficulty in reaching and sticking to a deal.
On Friday, Donald Trump reiterated on social media that he considers the interim ceasefire deal “over,” but said the US would continue talks aimed at reaching a permanent end to the war.
Hours later, the US president made fresh threats against Iran, warning that if it tries to assassinate him, “1000 missiles are locked and loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
A proposal for the strait, based on principles from the Strait of Malacca, has already been developed by Oman in cooperation with British lawyers. Muscat has now offered to send its legal experts to Tehran to explain the plan in detail.
Iranian state media reported on Friday that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi would travel to Oman on Saturday for talks about the strait. The visit “will focus on the Strait of Hormuz and shipping safety” and is “a continuation of the consultations we started with Oman over the past one or two months,” Iran’s official IRNA news agency quoted foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei as saying.
Oman controls most of the navigable waters in the strait and opposes a compulsory toll. Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari, said: “Giving the Iranians sovereignty over the strait in a way that contradicts international maritime law would essentially mean agreeing to be hostages to whatever radical element wants to take over the strait at any time.”
But the scale of Oman’s alternative plan may not match the ambitions of the Iranians, especially the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. One diplomat said: “There are sections of the IRGC that say the US launched an unlawful attack on them in February, so why should they bother with international law of the sea? Others want to cooperate. There is a division in Tehran.”
Iran is also under pressure from regional states to clarify its proposals and whether the fees would effectively be mandatory.
The Iranian embassy in London said it was interested in proposals independently prepared by the Energy Policy Research Group.
The paper argued that a transparent service fee embedded within an inclusive regional order would encourage all sides to cooperate, adding that the plan was not a crude toll imposed on ships just for passing through the strait.
Speaking at a meeting of the International Maritime Organization council on Thursday in London, the Omani delegate Khamis bin Mohammed Al Shamakhi said: “The right of transit passage through straits used for international navigation is guaranteed under international law and does not support the imposition of transit fees on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.”
However, he added that Oman saw value in exploring voluntary arrangements “relating to navigational support services that could further enhance maritime safety and security, protect the marine environment, reduce the risk of pollution, and strengthen preparedness for maritime emergencies.”Yes, including collisions and fires on board ships and tankers.
Behind these comments is detailed work by Oman on managing the Strait of Malacca, which connects the Indian and Pacific Oceans. A report to the IMO council on the cooperative mechanism for the Straits of Malacca and Singapore stated that more than 120,000 vessels pass through the strait each year.
The mechanism “has developed into a structured and inclusive platform where emerging risks, technological changes, and environmental priorities in the straits can be addressed collectively,” the report added. Voluntary contributions, especially from Japan, keep the mechanism running.
[Image: LNG tankers in the Strait of Malacca. A proposal adapting the Malacca principles to Hormuz has already been developed by Oman. Photograph: Fazry Ismail/EPA]
At the London meeting, an alliance of some Gulf and European countries pushed for a resolution condemning Iran for trying to control the Strait of Hormuz by attacking ships. The motion was not supported by Russia or China.
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Russia said the confrontational motion completely ignored the root causes of the crisis, while China described the text as one-sided and beyond the IMO’s mandate.
The motion came after the US hit more than 150 targets, mainly in southern Iran, this week in an attempt to destroy Iran’s ability to harass shipping with drones, missiles, and small boats. Iran has responded by attacking US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.
One diplomat said there were two reasons for the renewed fighting. One was the disputed control of the strait during its reopening, and the other was the long-term management of the waterway, including whether the Malacca model could work for Iran.
Clause 5 of the memorandum of understanding (MoU)—the ceasefire negotiation roadmap signed by Washington and Tehran last month—committed Iran to do its best to ensure safe passage for commercial vessels through the strait, with no charges for 60 days only.
Once technical and military obstacles were removed, commercial traffic would be “restored” within 30 days.
The US has claimed the MoU did not mean ships could only pass through the strait with Iran’s permission or only on routes specified by Tehran.
Separately, the memorandum committed Iran to hold talks with Oman on a long-term plan for the strait.
In a statement on Thursday, the IRGC navy claimed it had actually met the MoU commitments as it interpreted them.
[A map showing the northern and southern routes through the Strait of Hormuz]
The IMO secretary general, Arsenio Dominguez, believed he had secured Iran’s agreement to the southern route, which would allow thousands of stranded sailors to leave the strait. But if there was an agreement, Tehran withdrew its approval, forcing the UN agency to suspend its plan.
The US, however, continued to encourage commercial ships to use the southern route. US Central Command claims that since early May, US forces “have helped facilitate the successful transit of more than 800 commercial vessels and 380 million barrels of crude oil through this vital international trade corridor.”
The IRGC navy said: “We repeat that foreigners have no role in this land or the Strait of Hormuz.”
Diplomats are now examining whether Tehran is insisting that all ships use the northern route near Iran to clear the backlog of vessels, or simply requiring that all ships seek permission from Iran and its Persian Gulf Strait Authority to use the southern route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the proposal for Europe to consider navigation fees in the Strait of Hormuz
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What is the Strait of Hormuz
Its a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that connects the Persian Gulf to the open ocean About 20 of the worlds oil passes through it
2 Why is Europe talking about charging fees to use it
Europe is worried about the cost of protecting commercial ships in the region The idea is to make the countries and companies that benefit most from this oil route pay for the security needed to keep it open
3 Who would have to pay these fees
Most likely the owners of the oil tankers and cargo ships that sail through the Strait That cost would probably be passed on to the companies buying the oil or goods
4 Would this make my gas or heating bill more expensive
Probably yes at least a little If shipping oil through the Strait becomes more expensive the cost of crude oil goes up That increase usually shows up at the pump and in heating costs in Europe
5 Is this fee a tax on Iran
Not directly The fee is meant to cover the costs of European navies protecting ships Iran might see it as a challenge to its control of the Strait but the fee is not a tax paid to Iran
IntermediateLevel Questions
6 What specific navigation fees are they talking about
The proposals are vague but they generally mean a perbarrel or pership transit fee Think of it like a toll road for the sea The money would go into a fund to pay for European military escorts and insurance for ships
7 Why does Europe need to pay for security in the Strait of Hormuz Isnt that the US Navys job
The US has traditionally provided security there However Europe wants more independence and control over its energy security Also the US has signaled it might not prioritize this region as much so Europe feels it needs its own system
8 Wouldnt this just anger Iran and cause more conflict
Thats a major risk Iran considers the Strait its territory A European toll could be seen as an act of aggression or a blockade potentially leading to Iranian retaliation like attacking the ships that pay the
