Gulf states weigh transit fees in Strait of Hormuz for Iran and Oman

WASHINGTON, United States — Gulf states are considering collecting transit fees from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz for disbursement to Iran and Oman, Bloomberg reported, citing unnamed Gulf officials. The officials told the agency that several leading European powers have now accepted that vessels transiting the strait would need to pay fees to Iran and Oman. The New York Times reported that Oman has formally presented the fee proposal to the United States and its Western allies, drawing partly on practices used in the Strait of Malacca and the Strait of Singapore. According to the officials, Iran has insisted that the fees be binding, despite Tehran's appearance of being a voluntary participant in Oman's initiative. Iran previously announced, in coordination with Oman, that a new legal regime had been established in the Strait of Hormuz and that the prewar order would not return, referring to a US-Israeli attack. Iranian officials said the fees would be charged in return for maritime security services and that no payments would be collected from ships for 60 days following a memorandum of understanding signed with Washington on June 18.