Iran’s post-war Hormuz levy plan wins Oman’s support despite US objections, report says | Today’s news
Oman has reportedly backed imposing a levy on vessels using the Strait of Hormuz despite the Donald Trump administration’s very public opposition to a plan previously proposed by Iran. According to a New York Times report, US-Iranian ally Oman is moving forward with a plan to collect payments for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
The US and Iran agreed to an interim deal earlier this month that calls on Tehran to dilute its stockpile of enriched uranium. It also waives US-backed oil sanctions on Tehran, demands free passage through the Strait of Hormuz and gives each side 60 days to strike broader deals.
According to the report, Oman recently delivered a formal proposal to the United States and other Western allies that outlined a plan in which shipping companies would pay fees to use the strait.
Read also | US-Iran war news LIVE: Iran, Oman push for Hormuz levy plan – Report
American negotiators have received the Omani proposal and said they have concerns they intend to discuss with Omani officials. All of the officials and diplomats featured in this article spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy.
If approved, it would be the biggest consequence since the US seized Iran on February 28.
A fifth of the world’s oil was transported through the Strait of Hormuz before the war, Iranian attacks and the US blockade halted the movement of cargo ships and tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, causing a global energy crisis.
Oman proposes a service charge model for the Strait of Hormuz
According to the NYT report, Oman’s proposal draws inspiration from the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, where a private foundation receives voluntary contributions to promote safe navigation.
Under the Omani proposal, shipping companies would make payments for services associated with sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. However, uncertainty remains as to whether these payments would be voluntary or mandatory.
Read also | Morgan Stanley cuts oil price forecast again as flows recover, warns of glut
A regional diplomat quoted by The New York Times said the fees would be voluntary, while an Iranian official said the payments would be mandatory.
The proposal to impose a fee on ships using the Strait of Hormuz has reportedly been shared with the US and several Western governments, with US negotiators raising concerns that they intend to hold further discussions with Omani officials.
American envoys arrive in Qatar for talks on Iran, where tensions are rife over Hormuz
Two US envoys arrived in Qatar on Tuesday (30 June) for talks with mediators on implementing an initial deal to end the war in Iran, an official said.
The visit by Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East, and Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, comes after a weekend firefight in the Persian Gulf over efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping.
The envoys will not hold direct talks with Iranian diplomats in the Qatari capital of Doha, said Majed al-Ansari, a spokesman for Qatar’s foreign ministry.
The US opposes any move to monetize the Strait of Hormuz
Washington DC has consistently rejected the idea of charging vessels to access the Strait of Hormuz. As recently as last week, US President Donald Trump called any proposal for tolls or transit fees on the waterway “unacceptable”.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also echoed Washington’s position, saying: “We need to go back to how the straits looked before this conflict.”
He added that the US would oppose any attempt to monetize access to the shipping route, “regardless of whether it was called a ‘fee or a toll or a donation’.”
Iran is signaling that it can proceed independently
Iran has indicated it prefers reaching an agreement with Oman over any new framework for the Strait of Hormuz.
Read also | Iran asserts sole control over Hormuz and warns that challenges will bring more violence
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran’s priority is to develop a joint mechanism with Oman. But he warned that Iran would proceed independently if no such agreement could be reached to impose fees on ships using the Strait of Hormuz.
The proposal comes after an interim peace framework between the US and Iran guaranteed free commercial passage through the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days while the two sides negotiated a longer-term deal.
Why the Strait of Hormuz is important to global trade
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime hubs, serving as the primary export route for oil and natural gas from Gulf producers.
During the recent conflict, Iran effectively disrupted shipping through the narrow waterway, contributing to a spike in global energy prices and renewed concerns about international supply chains.
Read also | Iran wins the Battle of Hormuz
India, along with many other major energy importing countries, is heavily dependent on oil supplies that pass through the Strait of Hormuz, making any changes to transit arrangements closely watched by governments and global markets.
Gulf countries remain cautious about the proposed changes
The proposal is also expected to spark debate among Gulf countries that rely on uninterrupted maritime trade.
Speaking at an event hosted by the European Council on Foreign Relations, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan questioned the need for the new system.
“Why should we accept any new arrangement forced upon him now as a result of the conflict?” he asked.
Read also | The Hormuz toll would “spread like a contagion” to other waterways, Rubio says
Meanwhile, Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi argued that charging ships only to pass through the Strait of Hormuz would be illegal. However, he distinguished between transit charges and payments for services provided by littoral states.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state television this month that the Strait of Hormuz would not return to its pre-war state of free passage.
