Hormuz New Shipping Lane Talks Stalled Over Fees! Iran Demands Up to 7% Toll, U.S. Warns of Dangerous Precedent

Iran and Oman are accelerating talks on a new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Wednesday (5th) that both sides have reached consensus on the basic framework of new maritime arrangements and are finalizing a joint statement. However, whether it can be officially announced depends on 'third parties refraining from interfering in the negotiations,' a remark widely interpreted as targeting the United States.

Under the plan, the new arrangement will integrate two existing temporary shipping lanes—the northern lane within Iranian territorial waters and the southern lane within Omani waters—into a single two-way shipping corridor.

In exchange for reopening access to the Persian Gulf and restoring international shipping, Iran would gain supervisory authority over vessels entering the Gulf and monitoring rights over ships transiting Omani waters. This provision is one of the most contentious points in the negotiations.

Besides supervision rights, toll fees remain a key unresolved issue.

According to an Iranian senior official cited by Reuters, Iran is advocating for tolls equivalent to 5% to 7% of the cargo value of vessels passing through the strait. Oman has proposed around 3%, while the United States insists no fees should be charged at all.

A compromise currently under discussion would define these charges as 'voluntary payments.' However, market observers widely believe that, given security risks, shipping companies may still feel compelled to pay.

If the agreement is finalized, it would alter the current navigation regime in the Strait of Hormuz, which operates under international maritime law. Currently, vessels from all nations enjoy freedom of passage without oversight by any single country and without toll payments. The new arrangement could grant Iran de facto management authority over a critical global energy transit route, further consolidating its strategic influence without relying on continuous military pressure.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently warned that recognizing a single nation’s right to control an international waterway would set an 'extremely dangerous precedent,' potentially encouraging similar moves in other vital maritime chokepoints.

Meanwhile, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that negotiations with Oman are nearing completion, with both sides having reached principle-level consensus on nearly all core issues, including routing plans for entry and exit points of the new corridor.

He emphasized that the new corridor is a temporary measure expected to operate for two to four months, replacing the two current temporary routes near Larak Island and within Omani territorial waters.

Gharibabadi stressed that the agreement will be signed solely by Iran and Oman, and Tehran does not recognize any other country's right to intervene in the arrangements. However, he also noted that even after signing, it does not mean the Strait of Hormuz will immediately resume normal operations—the final outcome hinges on 'whether the United States fulfills its commitments under the memorandum of understanding.'

International oil prices remained largely stable on Wednesday, with benchmark Brent crude futures holding above $79 per barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude hovering around $75 per barrel.