AP: Strait of Hormuz shipping to remain free of Iranian charges

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz will not be subject to Iranian charges until a final agreement with Tehran is reached, the Associated Press (AP) reports, citing US officials.

Earlier, Iran's Fars news agency, citing sources in the Iranian Foreign Ministry, reported that the northern and southern shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz would remain operational during the initial phase of an agreement between Iran and Oman.

According to the report, the second phase of the agreement envisages the closure of the northern and southern routes, with all maritime traffic redirected through a central shipping corridor. Under the arrangement, the entry of vessels would be managed by Iran, while departures would be jointly overseen by Iran and Oman.

US diplomats told AP that vessels using the northern and southern routes would not be subject to service charges payable to Iran or any other related levies. Washington considers the Iran-Oman agreement to be temporary and maintains that navigation through the Strait of Hormuz should remain free of tolls and charges.

The United States intends to seek a comprehensive and final agreement that would formally enshrine those principles, according to AP.

By Aghakazim Guliyev