Iran Says it Will Charge Hormuz Fees And Rejects US Maritime Plan Tehran Defies Washington Over Strait ChargesIran has insisted it will impose new charges on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, setting up a fresh dispute with the United States as negotiations continue over a permanent settlement following months of conflict. Speaking at the World Peace Forum in Beijing, Iran's ambassador to China, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, said Tehran was working with Oman on new arrangements governing one of the world's most strategically important shipping lanes. "As a country where Hormuz is part of its territorial waters, we will definitely charge service fees," he said. The ambassador stressed the payments would be for security, supervision and environmental management rather than transit tolls, although he acknowledged that all commercial shipping would be affected. 'Friendly' Nations Could Receive DiscountsRahmani Fazli suggested countries that supported Iran during its recent conflict with the United States and Israel could receive preferential treatment. "We will definitely consider special treatment for the countries that were friendly to us and stood by us during the hard times," he said. Iran argues the proposed charges would help finance maritime security, vessel monitoring and responses to environmental risks created by the enormous volume of tanker traffic passing through the narrow waterway. The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly one-fifth of the world's seaborne oil and liquefied natural gas exports, making any change to its operation closely watched by global energy markets. US Rejects Any Payment SchemeThe proposal directly conflicts with the position outlined by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio has said any final agreement between Washington and Tehran must prohibit Iran from charging vessels for passage through the Strait, dismissing Tehran's distinction between "service fees" and transit tolls. An interim understanding reached after the recent conflict allows commercial vessels to pass free of charge for 60 days while negotiators seek a broader agreement. What happens after that temporary period expires remains one of the key unresolved issues in the talks. Shipping Corridor Remains FlashpointThe latest comments come amid growing debate inside Iran over the future management of the Strait of Hormuz. Hardline politicians and media outlets have criticised recent negotiations with Washington, claiming international shipping is increasingly using routes closer to Oman under U.S. naval protection, reducing Iran's influence over the waterway. Iranian officials reject suggestions that Tehran has surrendered control but continue to insist that future maritime arrangements must recognise what they describe as Iran's sovereign responsibilities in the Strait. New IRGC Navy Chief Issues WarningSeparately, Iran's newly appointed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy commander, Ali Ozmaei, issued a strongly worded warning directed at both the United States and Israel. Speaking during state funeral ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Ozmaei declared that "divine retribution" against what he called the "terrorist US" and the "illegitimate Zionist regime" was "not far away." Ozmaei, who is believed to have succeeded the late Alireza Tangsiri after his death during the conflict, accused Washington and Israel of believing they could halt Iran's path through military action. His remarks underscore that, despite the current ceasefire and ongoing diplomacy, tensions remain high. While negotiators continue working toward a permanent agreement covering Iran's nuclear programme and regional security, disputes over the Strait of Hormuz—and increasingly confrontational rhetoric from both sides—highlight how fragile the current truce remains. SOURCE
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