Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf said in an interview with Iranian television that the issue of payment for passage through the Strait of Hormuz was settled within the framework of the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US. He stated that coastal states have rights and obligations under international law and must receive payment for services they provide, and that Iran has sovereign authority in the strait and will collect fees.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf elaborated on the Strait of Hormuz toll arrangement in a lengthy interview with Iranian state television Thursday afternoon. Ghalibaf, who also leads Iran's negotiation team, revealed that the payment mechanism for passage through the strategic waterway was settled within the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States.
"Coastal states of the strait have rights and obligations under international law, and among other things they must receive payment for the services they provide," Ghalibaf said. He emphasized that "Iran has sovereign authority in the Strait of Hormuz, and of course we will collect payment for the services."
The interview comes after a series of statements by Iranian officials this week clarifying the terms of the US-Iran MOU. On Thursday morning, Ghalibaf and Foreign Ministry spokesman Baghaei said the MOU was final and digitally signed, and that the strait will not return to its pre-war status. Earlier this week, Iran asserted that the US recognized its right to collect tolls after a 60-day grace period, and that strait management is solely Iran and Oman's responsibility.
The interview offers a rare, extended look at the thinking within Iran's current leadership — with Ghalibaf, a key figure in the conservative establishment, publicly laying out the legal and sovereign rationale for what amounts to a permanent toll regime at the world's most critical maritime chokepoint.
- DevelopingIranian officials declare MOU with US final, demand payment for Strait of Hormuz passage
- StrongIranian Foreign Ministry spokesman: toll collection in Strait of Hormuz continues, contradicting Trump
- DevelopingIranian parliament speaker Ghalibaf: Strait of Hormuz will not return to pre-war status
- StrongIran: Strait of Hormuz management is solely Iran and Oman's responsibility, toll collection continues
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