Key facts
- Iran will waive planned fees for using the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days.
- Vessels must submit transit requests at least 48 hours in advance during the waiver period.
- Iran intends to implement maritime fees after the 60-day negotiation period.
- The waiver coincides with technical-level talks between the US and Iran.
- Iran requires ships to have mandatory insurance and follow a prescribed route along its coast.
- The Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) plans to charge an 'insurance fee' after the 60-day window.
Iran has announced a 60-day waiver on planned maritime fees for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, coinciding with ongoing technical-level talks with the US. This move aims to facilitate maritime traffic during the negotiation period.
Following the 60-day window, Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) intends to implement new charges, including an 'insurance fee,' and has outlined new procedures for vessel transit. These include requiring advance transit requests 48 hours prior and adherence to a specific route along Iran's coast, with deviations considered violations. The PGSA, which is sanctioned by the US, will be responsible for processing applications and enforcing penalties for non-compliance.
The shipping industry is divided on the prospect of paying transit fees. Greek shipping mogul Evangelos Marinakis has expressed willingness to pay Iran a fee to ensure safe passage, contrasting with the firm opposition from most Western ship owners and maritime groups, including Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. However, some major ship owners, like George Procopiou, have reportedly paid transit fees in Chinese yuan despite public opposition.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global chokepoint, lies within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman. While international law generally prohibits tolls in territorial waters, legal experts suggest Iran could justify fees by citing precedents like Australia's pilotage fees in the Torres Strait or Turkey's safety and environmental service charges on the Bosphorus. Oman's cooperation is considered crucial; without it, Iran might resort to aggressive tactics to control the strait, as previously threatened by President Donald Trump.
Omani officials have privately indicated a potential openness to charging fees under UNCLOS, emphasizing their sovereign responsibility for safe passage through their waters. This stance comes amid US threats to sanction Oman if it engages in tolling.