Following a preliminary US-Iran peace agreement, diplomatic tensions rise over potential transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz. While Iran and Oman discuss future administration costs, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejects any tolls on the international waterway. Meanwhile, Oman establishes temporary shipping routes to bypass potential sea mines, and broader disputes persist over Iran's nuclear inspections and regional military withdrawals.
Strait of Hormuz transit fees
- ▪Oman announced on June 24, 2026, that no tolls would be imposed on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, in line with recent United States-Iran talks
- ▪Gulf Arab states are expected to push for no transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran could propose environmental, navigation, and security fees
- ▪Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority suspended planned transit fees for vessels using the Strait of Hormuz during a 60-day negotiation period established in June 2026
- ▪Iran and Oman announced on June 23, 2026, that they will begin discussions on a pact regarding the future administration and transit costs of the Strait of Hormuz
US-Iran diplomatic negotiations
- ▪The United States and Iran signed a preliminary memorandum of understanding in Switzerland in June 2026, establishing a 60-day diplomatic negotiation period
- ▪United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected any transit fees or tolls for vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, calling it an international waterway
- ▪Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani visited Oman on June 24, 2026, to initiate negotiations involving Iran, Iraq, and Gulf Arab states
- ▪United States President Donald Trump ruled out tolls on Strait of Hormuz traffic unless they are imposed by and for the United States
International maritime law provisions
- ▪Coastal states can legally charge transit vessels for specific services such as inspections, navigation assistance, security, and environmental risk reduction
- ▪International law protects transit rights through strategic waterways, preventing coastal states from imposing explicit tolls simply for passage through international shipping lanes
Shipping traffic mine concerns
- ▪Oman, in coordination with the International Maritime Organization, designated two temporary routes on June 24, 2026, to facilitate safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz
- ▪Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains restricted by warnings from the Joint Maritime Information Center regarding the potential presence of sea mines
Nuclear inspections dispute
- ▪Iran Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that international inspector access to damaged nuclear facilities would only be addressed in a final agreement
- ▪United States President Donald Trump claimed Iran agreed to the highest level of nuclear inspections, which Iranian officials denied
Regional security withdrawal demands
- ▪Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf identified the withdrawal of foreign military forces from the Middle East as a strategic negotiation objective
- ▪Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz insisted that Israeli military forces will not withdraw from southern Lebanon despite any United States demands
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