Oman: Strait of Hormuz Arrangements Will Not Involve Transit Fees

Muscat — Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi affirmed Thursday that future arrangements concerning the Strait of Hormuz will not include the imposition of any transit fees.

Speaking at the Gulf-U.S. ministerial meeting in Bahrain, Al-Busaidi reiterated Oman’s support for the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran, stressing the importance of ensuring its success in restoring freedom of navigation and securing safe passage through the strategic waterway.

He underlined that Oman, as a littoral state of the strait, bears a special responsibility in supporting international efforts to safeguard maritime navigation in accordance with its obligations under international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

“Oman confirms that future arrangements related to the strait do not involve imposing any transit fees,” Al-Busaidi was quoted as saying by the Oman News Agency.

In the same meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that Washington would not accept any attempt by Iran to levy transit charges in the Strait of Hormuz. He warned that such a precedent could spread “like contagion” to other international waterways.

Rubio added: “If we accept the imposition of fees on the use of an international waterway simply because it lies near a state’s territory, the practice will spread across the world like contagion.”

The remarks underscore growing regional and international consensus on preserving the Strait of Hormuz as a free and secure passageway for global trade and energy supplies.