Oman weighs service fees for Hormuz shipping
Muscat says international transit rights will be respected but explores charges for navigation and environmental services in strategic waterway
MUSCAT, Oman (MNTV) – Oman has informed European partners that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is unlikely to return to its pre-conflict arrangements, with vessels potentially facing fees for certain maritime services, according to officials familiar with the discussions.
Omani officials reportedly said the sultanate would continue to uphold international maritime law and preserve freedom of navigation.
However, they indicated that charges could be introduced for services such as navigational assistance, pollution control and other operational support provided to vessels transiting the strategic waterway.
The government is also studying management models used at other major maritime chokepoints, including the Strait of Malacca in Southeast Asia, as it considers possible future arrangements.
The discussions have raised concerns among the United States, European governments and Gulf allies that Oman and Iran could eventually establish a joint fee system for ships using the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest routes for crude oil and liquefied natural gas exports.
French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to meet Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Paris, where maritime security and maintaining unrestricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz are expected to feature prominently on the agenda.
A senior US official said Iran had assured the Trump administration that it was neither seeking nor collecting tolls, insurance payments or other charges from vessels crossing the waterway.
Tensions over the strait intensified after months of conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel disrupted commercial shipping.
Western governments have accused Iran of threatening vessels and laying naval mines in parts of the waterway during the fighting, although Tehran has denied actions that would violate international navigation rules.
Following the recent ceasefire, Iran has maintained that it intends to jointly manage maritime traffic in the strait with Oman. Tehran has also proposed insurance requirements for transiting ships, with officials indicating the current arrangement would remain free for a limited period.
The issue has become a key element of ongoing US-Iran peace negotiations. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said any permanent agreement would require the Strait of Hormuz to remain open without tolls or mandatory charges, warning that allowing fees on international chokepoints could undermine global maritime trade.
Although oil shipments through the strait have increased since the ceasefire, commercial traffic remains below pre-conflict levels amid lingering security concerns. Governments including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have argued that imposing mandatory transit charges would conflict with established international maritime law.
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