BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 18. Iran said there will
“definitely be costs” associated with passage through the Strait of
Hormuz, while emphasizing that ensuring safe transit through the
strategic waterway remains the key priority, Foreign Ministry
spokesman Esmail Bagai said Sunday, Trend reports.
Speaking at a press conference in Tehran, Bagai said it is
natural for coastal states to request compensation for services
related to maritime passage.
“There will definitely be costs associated with the passage
through the Strait of Hormuz,” he said. “It is natural for each
coastal country to demand certain funds in return for the services
provided.”
He stressed, however, that the primary concern is maintaining
safe and secure navigation through the strait, one of the world’s
most important energy transit routes.
Bagai said Iran and Oman could establish a mechanism in line
with international law to regulate and ensure safe passage through
the waterway.
He also noted that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
(IRGC) announced a new zone of strict maritime control over the
Strait of Hormuz on May 4.
Tensions in the region have previously disrupted shipping routes
through the strait amid earlier military confrontations involving
Iran, the United States and Israel, followed by a temporary
ceasefire mediated by Pakistan.
Bagai’s remarks come as diplomatic discussions between Iran and
the United States over Iran’s nuclear program continue without a
final agreement.
