Iran says it will seek to impose service fees for ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for ensuring the vessels’ security, as opposed to transit tolls.
Iran “is not seeking to collect passage fees, transit duties, or transit rights payments,” the country’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said in an interview with the semi-official Iranian outlet Mehr on Thursday.
Instead, the country will seek compensation for services carried out alongside Oman, including navigation assistance, search and rescue, security and safety services, and environmental cleanup services in the event of pollution, the official said.
The strategic waterway “lies entirely within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman,” Gharibabadi added, saying those governments have sovereignty over the strait “under international law and the law of the sea.”
The deputy foreign minister said the arrangements being drafted will be consistent with international law, but acknowledged “they will not be 100 percent pleasing to some countries.
Status of US-Iran talks: Gharibabadi said “considerable progress” has been made on the draft text of a peace proposal with the US, but declined to outline a timeline for the potential deal.
“I truly cannot give you a timeframe at this point … We will finalize a text that is capable of serving and securing our interests,” he said.
