rki.news | Sources Xinhua
TEHRAN, Aug. 10 — Iran said Monday that fees should be charged for maritime services provided to vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran and Muscat continue discussions on establishing a new shipping route.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said at a weekly press conference that maritime services should generally be reimbursed, while noting that specific fee arrangements had not yet been discussed.
He said negotiations with Oman were proceeding smoothly and constructively, with talks focusing on safe navigation, environmental protection, maritime services and combating crimes in the strategic waterway.
Under a possible agreement, the existing northern and southern routes could be temporarily replaced by an intermediate route until Iran and Oman agree on a new traffic separation scheme, Baghaei said.
He attributed the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to what he described as US and Israeli military aggression against Iran, saying reopening the waterway depended on changes to the conditions imposed on Tehran.
Baghaei also said Iran was not negotiating directly with the United States, although the two sides continued exchanging messages through mediators