US Opposes Iran and Oman Plan for Hormuz Fees

The United States government strongly opposes a proposal by Oman and Iran to implement maritime service fees for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The Government of Oman delivered a formal proposal to Western allies suggesting a framework for voluntary fees to fund navigational safety and environmental protection. However, Iranian officials insist the payments will be mandatory, asserting exclusive authority to manage traffic in the waterway.

This diplomatic friction follows a Pakistan-mediated interim agreement signed June 18 by President Donald Trump and President Masoud Pezeshkian, which provided sanctions relief and a framework to end hostilities. Despite this, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf announced that free passage through the strait will last only 60 days, with Iran intending to impose tolls by mid-August. The dispute has escalated into military conflict, involving drone launches by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and U.S. strikes on Iranian military facilities.

To address the crisis, U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff traveled to Doha, Qatar, to meet with mediators and resume negotiations on Iran's nuclear program and maritime governance. While President Trump stated that Iran requested the meetings, Iranian officials denied any scheduled direct talks. Meanwhile, Iran and Oman have established a joint committee to discuss governance, though Tehran warned it would implement its own plan independently if a joint framework is not established.