Oman: No plans to impose transit fees on Strait of Hormuz

Oman stated on Thursday that future arrangements concerning the Strait of Hormuz will not involve the imposition of transit fees, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring free and safe navigation through the strategic waterway. The statement was delivered by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi during a joint ministerial meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council states and the United States, held in Bahrain, according to the Oman News Agency. Albusaidi said Oman, as a coastal state of the Strait of Hormuz, bears a special responsibility in supporting international efforts to secure maritime navigation, in line with its obligations under international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The minister also reaffirmed Oman’s support for the memorandum of understanding signed between the US and Iran, stressing the importance of achieving the MoU’s objectives to realise the desired peace. He underscored the importance of restoring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring the safe flow of maritime traffic. On the same Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Albusaidi, in a telephone conversation, emphasised the importance of continuing coordination in managing the strait, according to a statement released on Araghchi’s Telegram channel.