Iran has said it plans to charge service fees for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, but countries considered friendly to Tehran may receive special treatment. The proposal comes as Iran works with Oman on a new framework for managing passage through the strategic waterway, which carries a major share of global oil and cargo traffic.
The Iranian ambassador to China said the charges would cover services such as maritime security, vessel supervision and environmental protection and stressed that they should not be seen as a toll. He also indicated that nations that stood by Iran during recent tensions could be granted concessions under the new arrangement.
For India, the key question is whether its vessels will qualify for any exemption or reduced fee structure. Iran has previously assured New Delhi that Indian tankers were not charged during earlier tensions, and has said Indian ships should continue to receive safe passage through the strait.
