PNN – An American media outlet revealed that Oman has formally proposed a plan to impose transit fees on shipping companies to use the Strait of Hormuz to the United States and its Western allies.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, citing the Rai Al-Youm news website, the New York Times reported, citing its sources, that Oman has recently submitted a formal proposal to the United States and other Western allies that outlines a plan under which shipping companies would have to pay a fee to use the Strait of Hormuz.
According to these sources, the Sultanate of Oman’s proposal is partly based on the mechanisms implemented in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. The Omani proposal specifies that these fees are optional, while Tehran insists that they are mandatory.
The newspaper added that Washington has reservations about the proposal and is willing to discuss it with Oman. American officials hope to resolve their differences through technical negotiations.
According to Rai al-Youm, earlier, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said that his country’s officials are ready to resolve the issue of establishing a new maritime regime in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister had emphasized: However, if Oman does not show its willingness to define a common framework for managing the strait, Iran will act independently.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had also said that the Strait of Hormuz has been open to maritime shipping for years, but its situation will not return to the way it was before the US and Israeli attacks.
Rai Al-Youm added: Earlier, after an Iranian delegation visited for negotiations, Oman and Iran announced in a joint statement that the countries bordering the Strait of Hormuz should have sovereignty over it and would discuss its future.
The statement said that in addition, the two sides intend to reach an agreement on the mechanism for ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international standards and taking into account the costs of the coastal countries.