Iran plans Hormuz passage fees

Iran has announced plans to impose fees on commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the country's Foreign Ministry. Esmaeil Baghaei, the ministry's spokesman, stated that Iran is collaborating with Oman to establish protocols for maritime security, environmental protection, and combating crime at sea.

These fees would be charged for the maritime services provided to ships. The strait, a vital international route for oil, gas, and fertilizer, has been a source of tension between the US and Iran, with military conflict escalating recently. Prior to the February 28th US and Israeli war against Iran, shipping through the strait was largely uninterrupted without tolls or fees.

The strait's narrowest point is around 39 kilometers, and both Iran and Oman claim 12 nautical miles (22.2 kilometers) of territorial waters as per the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). However, the UN body recognizes no international waters in the strait. Iran rejects this legal stance, while the US aims to restore pre-war levels of oil and gas transit through the strait.

Additionally, Iran's Supreme Leader appointed six high-ranking military commanders, including the chief of staff of the Armed Forces, the commander-in-chief of the IRGC, the commander of the IRGC Navy, and the head of the Basij.