The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is aware of U.S. President Donald Trump's statements regarding plans to charge ships for the protection of the Hormuz Strait by U.S. military forces, but such practices are not considered acceptable by the UN, reports Iran International, citing an IMO representative.
"We are aware of the president's post on social media and are awaiting further details," he said. "We have always been consistent on payment issues; the IMO is firmly against paying for passage through straits used for international navigation."
According to the organization, there are no legal grounds for imposing mandatory fees for passage through straits like Hormuz.
On July 13, Trump announced that the U.S. would again begin blocking Iranian ports and would impose a charge of 20% on cargoes as a fee for the protection of the Hormuz Strait. "The U.S. will henceforth be known as the 'protector of the Hormuz Strait.' For the fairness of the process, compensation will be required at a rate of 20% of all transported cargoes for all expenses necessary to ensure security in this unstable part of the world," Trump explained.
The Iranian armed forces' central command, 'Khatam al-Anbia,' stated that they would not allow the U.S. to independently manage the Hormuz Strait.
