What kind of taxes Iran says it will demand in the Strait of Hormuz, citing “considerable progress” in talks with the US
Iran says it will seek to impose service, not transit, fees on ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global energy shipments and beyond.
Tehran “does not seek to collect tolls, transit fees or transit rights payments,” Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said in an interview with Iran's semi-official Mehr publication, as quoted by CNN.
In return, the official says, Tehran will seek compensation for services provided alongside Oman, including assistance in navigation, search and rescue, security and safety services, and environmental cleanup services in the event of pollution.
The waterway “lies entirely within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman,” he added, saying those governments have sovereignty over the strait “in accordance with international law and the law of the sea.”
Kazem Gharibabadi claims that the arrangements will be made in accordance with international law, but admitted that “they will not be 100% satisfactory for some countries”.
“Considerable progress” in talks with the US
Iran's deputy foreign minister says “considerable progress” has been made on the draft text of a peace proposal with the US, but declined to give a timetable for a potential deal.
“I really can't give you a timetable at this moment (…). We will finalize a text that will be able to serve us and protect our interests,” he added.
Although the parties reached an initial ceasefire agreement on April 8, the United States has struck Iran again in recent days. Tehran responded with attacks on Kuwait, another Washington ally.
On Wednesday, the United States House of Representatives passed a resolution restricting the ability of the US executive to initiate new military actions in the Middle East without the approval of Congress.
