Oman weighs Strait of Hormuz fees after war

Oman has told European officials that the Strait of Hormuz cannot simply return to the way it operated before the war, Bloomberg reports.

Citing people familiar with the matter, the news agency said Omani officials told their European counterparts that vessels passing through the key waterway may face some form of charge.

Muscat said it would continue to respect international maritime law, but raised the possibility of fees linked to services such as cleaning pollution in the strait or helping ships navigate its waters, the people said. They asked not to be named because the discussions were private.

It remains unclear whether Oman presented the proposed charges as mandatory.

The people said Oman has been studying how other major maritime chokepoints operate, including the Strait of Malacca in Asia, where shipping charges are not compulsory.

The proposal has alarmed the US, European governments and Oman’s Gulf neighbours, who fear Muscat could work with Iran to create a toll or fee system for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.