Iran is reportedly discussing with Oman ways to establish a toll system for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Given the United States' strong opposition to charging tolls in international waterways, some say this could also be a setback for U.S.-Iran end-of-war talks.
On the 21st (local time), according to U.S. media, Iran's ambassador to France, Mohammad Aminnejad, said in a Bloomberg interview the previous day, "Iran and Oman must mobilize all resources for security services and navigation management," adding, "This involves expense, and the countries that benefit from that route should also bear the cost."
Ambassador Aminnejad said the Strait of Hormuz toll system "will be operated transparently," arguing, "If you want the situation to improve, you must address the root cause of the problem." He also criticized the United States for underestimating Iran's capacity for resistance.
He said, "The United States believed it could resolve the problem within three to four days by pressuring the Iranian people through sanctions and a full blockade," adding, "It thought of Iran as a second Venezuela."
The Strait of Hormuz, a strategic choke point located between Iran to the north and Oman to the south, carries a significant share of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments.
However, after the war broke out, Iran effectively sealed off passage through the Strait of Hormuz, sending global energy prices soaring. Since April, the U.S. Navy has also launched a so-called "counter-blockade" to cut off Iranian ports, and Iran has allowed only limited passage through the strait.
Ambassador Aminnejad pointed to high insurance premiums as the cause of reduced ship traffic, but Bloomberg reported that the shipping industry sees Iran's missile and drone attacks and the risk of mines as greater threats.
The United States and Iran are maintaining an unstable truce signed on Apr. 8 while continuing end-of-war talks under Pakistan's mediation. However, The New York Times analyzed that Iran's discussions with Oman on a Strait of Hormuz toll system despite U.S. opposition signal that the two sides are still not close to a deal to end the war.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said the end-of-war talks are making progress, but based on what has been made public so far, observers say neither side appears clearly willing to compromise.
The "Persian Gulf Strait Authority," which Iran's government is said to have established under the pretext of managing passage through the Strait of Hormuz, said on social media the previous day that it "set boundaries for the supervisory zone for managing the Strait of Hormuz," adding that "passage requires authorization from the authorities."
In response, President Trump said at a White House event, "We want passage to be free. We don't want tolls," stressing, "That is an international waterway."
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also warned regarding Iran's push for a Strait of Hormuz toll that "if they force through such a plan, a diplomatic agreement will become impossible."
The New York Times reported that Iran and Oman are using the term "fee" instead of "toll" to avoid legal controversy. Under international law, charging a toll for passage through an international waterway is considered illegal, but fees for actual services provided—such as waste disposal or navigation support—may be allowed in some cases.