Europe considering proposals to allow navigational fees in strait of Hormuz

Iran is also under pressure from regional states to clarify its proposals for the strait of Hormuz and whether the fees would in effect be compulsory. Photograph: Reuters View image in fullscreen Iran is also under pressure from regional states to clarify its proposals for the strait of Hormuz and whether the fees would in effect be compulsory. Photograph: Reuters Europe considering proposals to allow navigational fees in strait of Hormuz Plans specify tolls must not be compulsory, as US officials urge Iran to make public statement that strait is open and that shipping can safely pass Europe is studying proposals that may allow the charging of navigational fees in the strait of Hormuz so long as the tolls are not compulsory and have the support of the UN agency that regulates maritime transport. Britain’s deputy prime minister, David Lammy, said the imposition of compulsory tolls would be disastrous. But some of his cabinet colleagues said they recognised that systems of payments for specific navigational services were permissible in many natural waterways, including the strait of Malacca and the Channel. It comes as US officials demanded Iran make a public statement saying the strait of Hormuz is open and that ships using the vital corridor won’t be attacked any more. The US officials blamed power struggles inside Tehran for the difficulty in reaching and adhering to a deal. Donald Trump reiterated on social media on Friday that he viewed the interim ceasefire deal as “over” but that the US would continue talks aimed at reaching a permanent end to the war. A proposal for the strait that adapts the principles from the strait of Malacca has already been developed by Oman in conjunction with British lawyers. Muscat has now offered to send its legal experts to Tehran to explain the plan in detail. Iranian state media reported on Friday that foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi would travel to Oman on Saturday for talks about the strait. The visit “will be focused on the strait of Hormuz and shipping safety” and is “a continuation of the consultations that we started with Oman over the past one or two months,” Iran’s official IRNA news agency quoted foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei as saying. US and Iran trade escalating strikes as supreme leader is buried after days-long funeral Read more Oman controls most of the navigable waters in the strait and opposes a compulsory toll. Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari, said: “Giving the Iranians sovereignty over the strait in a way that contradicts international maritime law will be basically agreeing to be hostages to whatever radical element that wants to take over the strait at any time.” But the scale of Oman’s alternative scheme may not match the ambitions of the Iranians, especially the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. One diplomat said: “There are sections of the IRGC that say the US launched an unlawful attack on them in February, so why should they bother with the internat