Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi said that future arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz will not include the collection of transit fees, according to a statement reported by Israeli journalist Asaf Rozentzweig (N12). The comment adds Oman's position to the ongoing international debate over the strategic waterway's toll regime, coming after Iran had announced a 60-day pause in fee collection with an intent to resume.
Oman's foreign minister, Badr al-Busaidi, stated on Thursday that future arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz will not include the collection of transit fees. The remark, reported by Israeli journalist Asaf Rozentzweig (N12), appears to align Oman's policy with the US position that no country may levy tolls for passage through the strait.
As The Zioneer has reported in recent weeks, the issue has been a central point of contention in ongoing US-Iran talks. Iran's government announced a 60-day pause in fee collection on June 24, but Iranian officials have consistently stated that the fee regime remains in place and will resume. Oman, which jointly claims sovereignty over parts of the strait with Iran, had previously affirmed its commitment to free passage under international law, as The Zioneer reported on June 23.
Busaidi's statement is the clearest sign yet that Oman will not back Iran's efforts to maintain the toll system under rebranded categories such as "navigation, insurance, and environmental protection" fees, which Tehran proposed earlier in June. The statement comes as indirect talks between the US and Iran continue, with President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio reiterating that no final agreement may include payments for transit through Hormuz.
The foreign minister did not specify whether Oman would take steps to enforce free passage or what consequences might follow if Iran acts unilaterally on toll collection.
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