TEHRAN, May 25 (ANI) — Iran said Monday that it is “not seeking” to impose tolls on vessels transiting the strategic Strait of Hormuz amid reports claiming the Islamic Republic was collecting fees from ships passing through the vital waterway.
Speaking during a weekly press briefing, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Iran is instead working with Oman to establish a mechanism to ensure the safe passage of ships through the Strait.
Baghaei described the joint efforts by Iran and Oman to create a maritime safety protocol as a “responsible step” and said it was “natural” for services related to maritime safety and environmental protection to involve certain costs.
“We are not seeking to collect tolls; the actions of Iran and Oman to develop a protocol for the safe passage of ships are a responsible step,” Baghaei said, according to Iranian state media outlet Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.
While rejecting claims of toll collection, Baghaei acknowledged that services connected to maritime safety and environmental monitoring could require fees.
“It is natural that in this process, the services provided and the protection of the environment require a fee,” he added.
Baghaei said both Iran and Oman support the use of the Strait of Hormuz for “free trade and safe passage” while emphasizing the need to address broader regional security concerns.
The spokesperson also alleged that the waterway had previously been “misused” against Iran through military actions, in an apparent reference to the US naval blockade on Iranian ports.
“We must also consider our own security and pay attention to the concerns of the global community. Iran and Oman believe in using this strait for free trade and safe passage,” Baghaei said.
“What happened was the misuse of this Strait for military aggression against Iran,” he added.
Baghaei also referred to a recent visit by Iran’s deputy foreign minister to Oman, where discussions focused on creating a formal mechanism to ensure safe maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
“Every responsible country welcomes the creation of this mechanism,” he said.
Last week, Iran announced the launch of a new regulatory authority intended to oversee and monitor operations related to the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council reposted a message on X stating that the official account of the “Persian Gulf Strait Authority” (PGSA) had become operational.
The PGSA, introduced earlier this month, has been described as a new framework for managing maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
“In the Name of God. The official X account of the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (#PGSA) is now live. Follow us for real-time updates on the Hormuz Strait operations and latest developments,” the authority said in its post.
The announcement marks the formal establishment of a dedicated body overseeing developments and operations linked to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes for global oil and energy shipments. (ANI)
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