Illustrative image.
Iran is discussing with Oman how to set a permanent toll system that will formalize its control of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian ambassador to France told Bloomberg on May 20.
“Iran and Oman must mobilize all their resources both to provide security services and to manage navigation in the most appropriate manner,” ambassador Mohammad Amin-Nejad, said in an interview with the news agency.
“This will entail costs, and it goes without saying that those who wish to benefit from this traffic must also pay their share,” he said, adding that the system will be transparent. “And if today there is any desire for the situation to improve, a solution must be found to tackle the root of the problem.”
Asked about the Iranian plan, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on May 21 that Washington “always said a tolling system in the strait would be unacceptable.”
“No one in the world is in favor of a tolling system. It can’t happen. It would make a diplomatic deal unfeasible. It’s a threat to the world that they would try to do that, and it’s completely illegal,” he said.
The Strait of Hormuz — responsible for around 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments — has very much remained under de facto Iranian control since the start of the American-Israeli war on the Islamic Republic on February 28.
Despite the objection from the U.S., Iran has been working to formalize control over the waterway through the newly-funded Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA).
On May 21, PGSA declared a a “controlled maritime zone” at the Strait of Hormuz, defining it as the “line connecting Kuh-e Mobarak in Iran and southern Fujairah in the UAE (United Arab Emirates) at the eastern side of the strait, to the line connecting the end of Qeshm Island in Iran and Umm Al Quwain in the UAE at the western side of the strait.”
The authorities warned that transit through the area to pass through the strait will require coordination and authorization from the authority.
The latest developments shows that the issue of the Strait of Hormuz remains a major point of disagreement between Iran and the U.S.
Earlier this month, the U.S. attempted to challenge Iranian control over the waterway with Operation Project Freedom, but quickly backed down after a serious clash that nearly brought the ceasefire reached last month to an end. For now, Washington is keeping a tight siege on Iranian ports as a retaliatory measure.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
