Iran Says It Will Charge Again in 60 Days at the Strait of Hormuz for "Service Fees"

[Financial News] Iran, which had promised in a ceasefire memorandum with the United States that it would not collect transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz, said it would begin charging once the final 60-day ceasefire negotiation period ends.
According to AFP on the 17th local time, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who leads Iran's ceasefire negotiating delegation, made the remarks in an interview with state media. He said, "The Strait of Hormuz will not return to the state it was in before the war," and added, "The Islamic Republic of Iran has sovereign rights over the Strait of Hormuz, and we will naturally receive fees for the services we provide."
He also explained, however, that this does not mean Iran will act in a way that violates international law or maritime navigation.
The remarks are understood to mean that Iran may seek payment in forms other than a transit toll. Under Articles 26 and 44 of UNCLOS, all ships are guaranteed the right of passage through straits used for international navigation. Even within their territorial waters, individual states cannot impose a toll simply for passage. States that are party to the convention may charge only for specific services provided to foreign vessels. Iran, the United States, and Israel have not ratified the convention.
At a regular briefing on the 25th of last month, Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, said of the conditions for opening the Strait of Hormuz, "We do not collect transit fees. We do not seek to impose transit charges." He added, "It is natural that costs should be recovered for the services and environmental protection provided in this process."
A full text of the memorandum released by U.S. media on the 17th shows that Article 5 includes the following: "The Islamic Republic of Iran shall, immediately upon signing this memorandum, take all necessary measures to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels from the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, and vice versa, for 60 days only, with no charge." The same article also states, "The Islamic Republic of Iran shall engage in dialogue with the Sultanate of Oman, in consultation with the Persian Gulf littoral states, to define the future management and maritime services of the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with applicable international law and the sovereignty of the coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz."
pjw@fnnews.com Park Jong-won Reporter