The Iranian ambassador in China has announced that ships passing through the key Hormuz Strait for global supplies will be charged fees, hinting that 'friendly' countries will benefit from special conditions.
During the World Peace Conference held in Beijing, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli stated that Tehran is working on 'new regulations' for the waterway in cooperation with Oman.
'As a country whose territorial waters include Hormuz, we will definitely charge fees for services,' Fazli said, insisting that these fees would not be considered taxes.
The Iranian diplomat elaborated: 'The new regulations will pertain to ensuring the safety of navigation through the Hormuz Strait, controlling the passage of ships... as well as addressing the ecological consequences of the presence of a large number of vessels.'
He added that special treatment may be given to friendly countries and those that stood by Iran in 'difficult times.'
Before the start of the war, 20% of the world's consumed oil and gas passed through the Hormuz Strait.
According to a memorandum of understanding that ended the war between the US and Iran, commercial vessels will pass through the strait free of charge for 60 days, but it is still unclear what will happen after the 60-day period expires. Washington consistently emphasizes that Tehran cannot charge fees from vessels using the strait.
