Guwahati: Iran has announced that vessels from countries authorised to transit the Strait of Hormuz will have to pay service fees to Tehran.
Iran’s National Security Commission spokesperson Ebrahim Rezaei said the charges would cover various maritime, environmental and logistical services provided in the strategic waterway.
According to Iran’s state broadcaster, the decision follows the approval of the Article 3 Strategic Action to Ensure the Security and Progress of the Strait of Hormuz plan. Rezaei said the payment system would include flexible financial arrangements.
The announcement comes as tensions between Iran and the United States continue to escalate. Earlier, Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), Mohsen Rezaei, said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until Washington fulfils its commitments and changes its approach towards Tehran.
US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, reiterated his claim over the strategic waterway by sharing an image portraying the Strait of Hormuz as part of US territory.
The waterway has emerged as a key point of the confrontation between Tehran and Washington. Iran maintains that the strait remains closed and has warned of countermeasures against tanker vessels using the route without authorisation.