FILE PHOTO: An aerial view of the Iranian shores and the island of Qeshm in the strait of Hormuz, December 10, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
TEHRAN, Iran, June 27 (ANI) — Senior Iranian leader and former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Maj. Gen. Mohsen Rezaei has called for the establishment of an “insurance mechanism” for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, saying vessels involved in maritime incidents should be covered to reduce risk while arguing that the costs should be borne by oil transporters rather than the Iranian people.
Speaking in an interview with U.S.-based NewsNation on Thursday, Rezaei, who also serves as a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, outlined Tehran’s position on the future of the strategic waterway amid ongoing discussions with the United States over regional security.
Responding to a question about Iran’s vision for the Strait of Hormuz as negotiations with Washington continue, Rezaei said discussions were underway regarding tolls, fees, and service costs associated with passage through the waterway.
“Regarding fees, there is a cost to mention in this matter. There is a toll discussion and a fees discussion. There is a discussion about service costs in the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.
Rezaei said Iran intends to maintain security and protect the environment in the strategic maritime corridor while proposing an insurance framework for commercial vessels.
“Yes, we want to maintain the security of the Strait of Hormuz. We want to protect the environment of the Strait of Hormuz. We must establish an insurance mechanism so that ships involved in incidents or encountering problems are covered to reduce their risk,” he said.
He added that the financial burden of such measures should not fall on Iran.
“When we provide all of this, these costs cannot come out of the pockets of the Iranian people. These costs must be collected from those who are transporting oil through the Strait of Hormuz,” Rezaei said.
The issue of levying fees on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz has emerged as a key point of contention between Tehran and Washington during their negotiations.
Iran has argued that ships using the strategic waterway should contribute to the costs of security and related services, while the United States has repeatedly rejected any proposal for tolls or maritime transit fees, maintaining that freedom of navigation through the international shipping lane must be preserved.
U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly rejected the proposal, saying it would be “unacceptable” if any agreement with Iran included fees on shipping or maritime activities in the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking to reporters during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday, Trump said, “It would be unacceptable to me because we have numerous straits that, if you did that for them, you’d have to do it for other people. You have other straits; well, I wouldn’t allow it there either. It would be a game changer.”
Trump also previously claimed that Tehran had given Washington formal assurances that it would not impose transit charges on vessels navigating the strategic waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global maritime chokepoint that carries nearly 20% of the world’s seaborne oil trade, has remained a source of international concern following reports that Iran could regulate commercial traffic through the passage.
Seeking to calm industry concerns, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Iran had pledged not to impose additional costs on commercial shipping.
“Iran has informed us that there will be ‘NO TOLLS, NO INSURANCE COSTS, & NO OTHER CHARGES OF ANY KIND’ on commercial shipping,” Trump wrote.
He added a warning that, “If this is false information, negotiations would end immediately!” (ANI)
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