- Oman has reaffirmed its support for free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, stating that future management arrangements will not include transit fees and backing efforts to ensure safe passage for global shipping.
Oman has stated that any future arrangements governing the Strait of Hormuz will not include transit fees, reaffirming its commitment to maintaining free and secure maritime navigation through one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.
Speaking during a joint ministerial meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the United States in Bahrain, Oman’s Foreign Minister, Badr Al-Busaidi, said future frameworks for managing the strait would not involve imposing charges on vessels passing through the route, according to news reports.
The remarks come amid reports that Iran has been considering collecting fees for services provided to tankers and commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Al-Busaidi emphasized that Oman, as a country bordering the strait, bears a special responsibility in supporting international efforts aimed at safeguarding maritime navigation in accordance with international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
He also voiced support for the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, expressing hope that it would help restore stability, ensure freedom of navigation, and contribute to regional peace.
Oman reiterated the importance of keeping shipping lanes open and secure, calling for the full restoration of safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route through which a significant share of global energy supplies passes each day.
The Sultanate stressed that maintaining uninterrupted maritime traffic remains essential for regional stability, international trade, and global energy security.
