Major European Nations Acquiesce to Hormuz Strait Shipping Fees, Impose Non-Discrimination Terms

According to Bloomberg, on July 2, major European nations have internally accepted that Hormuz Strait shipping fees to Iran and Oman are "unavoidable," according to sources cited by PANews. The European countries are conditioning acceptance on Iran and Oman pledging non-discriminatory charging based on vessel nationality, and are pushing for the establishment of an international maritime coalition to clear mines.

The United States and Gulf Arab nations publicly maintain that Iran and Oman have no right to levy any passage fees under international maritime law and to prevent setting a precedent for other nations. Oman is meanwhile drawing on the Malacca Strait toll and security fund as reference models to balance Iran's demands with global shipping stability.