Iran’s envoy to China has announced that Tehran plans to introduce a new fee on vessels passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, however, said countries regarded as “friends” of Iran would be granted preferential treatment under the proposed arrangement.
The move had previously been rejected by the United States.
An initial agreement between Iran and the US to end hostilities had allowed commercial vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz without charges for 60 days, although the post-deadline mechanism remains unclear.
Speaking at the World Peace Forum in Beijing, Fazli said Iran was working closely with Oman to develop a new framework governing the key maritime route.
He said the proposed system would include safety guarantees for navigation, monitoring of vessel movements, and measures to address environmental impacts from heavy maritime traffic.
“We will certainly give preferential treatment to countries that are friendly with us and stand by us in difficult times,” he said.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy chokepoint, handling about one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
At various points during tensions in the Middle East, the waterway has faced threats of closure by Iran, which previously triggered spikes in global energy prices.
