Iranian Media: Tehran Can Impose Strait of Hormuz Fees Under Deal
Iran's state media claims the U.S. agreed to recognize Tehran's right to collect fees from ships in the Strait of Hormuz, contradicting President Trump's toll-free assurances.
According to Breitbart News, Iran’s state-run Fars News Agency cited an unnamed “knowledgeable source” on Monday stating that the U.S.-Iran agreement includes American acceptance of Iran’s authority to charge for maritime services in the strait.
The source alleged that explicit recognition of Iranian-Omani sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz was inserted into the deal during final negotiations. These last-minute additions reportedly stipulate that Iran and Oman will jointly determine future administration of maritime services in the strategic waterway.
The Iranian source told Fars that Washington has effectively accepted Tehran’s right to collect service fees after a 60-day toll-free period expires. The source claimed the United States merely secured a temporary exemption while conceding the broader principle of fee collection.
Fars reported that Iran is developing a combination of safety, navigation, environmental, and insurance services as justification for extracting tolls from the massive volume of shipping that normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz. The regime has allegedly already secured Oman’s support for the scheme.
Esmail Baghaei, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, confirmed on Monday that Iran intends to begin charging a “maritime service fee” from vessels transiting the strait. He insisted Tehran does not seek transit tolls but will charge for navigation services, environmental protection, ship insurance, and other services.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated Friday that Tehran has made a firm decision that administration of the strategic waterway would no longer operate as it did before the recent conflict. He said Iran would charge fees for services supposedly provided to ships all along without cost.
These Iranian statements directly contradict President Trump’s Sunday assurances that the Strait of Hormuz would be permanently toll-free under his agreement with Iran.
Vice President JD Vance told CNBC on Monday that he expects the strait to remain open without tolls for the long term, though specific details have not been finalized. Vance indicated that technical negotiations are ongoing to resolve these important particulars.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, with roughly one-fifth of global petroleum supplies passing through the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman.
With information from Breitbart News
