An Iranian source involved in the ongoing US-Iran talks in Oman said Tehran is demanding a 7% fee on the cargo value of commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, while the US is trying to lower the rate to 5%. The source added that Russian and Chinese ships would be exempt, and Iraqi vessels are the only Persian Gulf state exempt. The fee is described as a service charge comparable to the Suez Canal and Bosporus Strait.
The latest development in the US-Iran talks over the Strait of Hormuz comes from an Iranian source directly involved in the negotiations in Oman. According to the source, Tehran is demanding a 7% fee on the cargo value of all commercial shipping passing through the strategic waterway, while the US is pushing for a 5% rate. Russian and Chinese vessels would be exempt, and Iraqi ships would be the only Persian Gulf state exempt. The fee is characterized as a service charge, analogizing the Strait to the Suez Canal and the Bosporus.
This report follows a bulletin earlier today from IRGC-affiliated channels that first claimed Iran was planning a 7% cargo fee. The current account provides more granular detail, including the US counter-proposal and specific exemptions. The talks in Oman, mediated by Oman, have been ongoing for weeks, with the US insisting the framework is a coordination agreement without tolls, while Iran has consistently demanded mandatory fees.
As The Zioneer reported this afternoon, the 7% figure was initially floated by IRGC-linked channels. The new source attribution adds credibility to the claim but remains a single-source report. The US has not officially commented on the specific numbers.
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