Oman, Iran Announce Plan to Control Strait of Hormuz Costs
Iran and Oman announced a joint group to oversee Strait of Hormuz navigation, sparking concerns about potential shipping fees despite U.S. insistence that international law bars such tolls.
The two nations issued a statement Tuesday declaring they will coordinate on 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, according to New York Post.
The vague language has sparked concern that Iran and Oman, which control opposite shores of the strategic waterway’s southern entrance, may attempt to extract payments from vessels transiting the strait.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio flatly rejected any such arrangement during a visit to the United Arab Emirates Tuesday. He stated that existing international law prohibits any country from charging tolls or fees on international waterways, adding that all regional nations share this understanding.
The strait carries nearly one-fifth of global seaborne oil supplies annually, making it one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.
Conflicting Signals From Muscat
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi had publicly affirmed Monday that both countries remained committed to toll-free safe passage through the strait following high-level meetings. However, uncertainty remains whether this pledge applies only during the current 60-day negotiating window between Washington and Tehran for a final peace agreement, as New York Post reports.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf met with Al Busaidi and Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman this week.
Tehran’s Shifting Rhetoric
In recent months, Iran has publicly threatened to impose tolls on shipping passing through the strait. The regime has since adjusted its language, framing potential charges as fees for unspecified services rather than outright tolls.
Shipping through the waterway has resumed following the memorandum of understanding sealed between the Trump administration and Iran last week, though traffic remains below pre-conflict levels.
Oman maintains a neutral foreign policy approach, cultivating relationships with both Iran and Western powers. Al Busaidi previously mediated unsuccessful negotiations between Washington and Tehran before Operation Epic Fury launched February 28.
With information from New York Post
