Oman Rules Out Hormuz Shipping Fees

(MENAFN) Oman has firmly ruled out any imposition of fees on vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz, with its transport minister invoking binding international maritime law to rebuff proposals attributed to Tehran that have rattled global energy markets.

Transport Minister Said Al-Maawali delivered the position during a Shura Council session on Wednesday, responding to questions about the feasibility of transit charges on one of the world's most strategically vital chokepoints.

"Oman's position on the Strait of Hormuz is clear. We have signed all international maritime transport agreements," Al-Maawali said in his comments carried by an Omani radio station.

"The strait is a natural passage not created by human intervention, and therefore no fees can be imposed under international agreements signed by the sultanate," he added.

The remarks were a direct response to media reports citing an unnamed Iranian source claiming that Tehran had floated the idea of levying charges on ships transiting the strait as part of broader efforts to broker an end to the ongoing conflict.

The Strait of Hormuz — a narrow corridor roughly 34 kilometers (21 miles) wide threading between Iran and Oman — serves as the sole maritime gateway linking the Gulf to the Indian Ocean. Approximately 20% of the world's oil shipments pass through its waters, making any disruption to navigation a matter of acute global concern.

Al-Maawali acknowledged that Oman's Foreign Ministry is actively engaged in discussions over the waterway's status, expressing cautious optimism for a resolution that serves both regional stakeholders and the broader international community. He did, however, flag a significant complication: several key parties — notably Iran and the United States — have not signed the relevant international agreements, leaving what he described as a "legal gap" in the governance framework.

Oman confirmed it has already held talks with Iran at the deputy foreign minister level to explore pathways for ensuring uninterrupted navigation through the strait.

The diplomatic maneuvering unfolds against a backdrop of sharply escalating regional hostilities. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump announced he had agreed "to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks" — a statement issued less than two hours before a deadline he had set for Iran to reopen the strait and accept a deal, warning that failure to comply risked the destruction of "an entire civilization."

The crisis traces its current trajectory to a joint US-Israeli offensive launched against Iran on February 28, which killed more than 1,400 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Tehran has since retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting US military assets, while simultaneously tightening restrictions on commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

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