Iran Offers Special Hormuz Fee Treatment to Friendly Nations
Iran's ambassador to China has stated that new fees will be charged to ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, with preferential treatment for nations considered friendly to Tehran. The announcement comes amid ongoing negotiations to end the West Asia war between Iran and the United States.
Speaking at the World Peace Forum in Beijing on Saturday, Ambassador Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said Iran is working 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,' he said, clarifying that these are not a toll but fees for security, supervision, and environmental management.
The initial ceasefire deal between Iran and the United States, reached in late June 2026, stipulated that commercial vessels would transit the strait free of charge for 60 days. It remains unclear what system will be in place after that period. Fazli indicated that friendly nations—those that supported Iran during the war—would receive special treatment.
The Strait of Hormuz normally carries about one-fifth of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas. It was effectively closed by Iran during the conflict, causing global energy prices to spike. Iran lifted the blockade after signing the initial deal, and talks for a permanent settlement continue.
The United States has rejected the idea of any fees, and the international community is closely watching the developments, given the strait's critical role in global energy markets.
