Iran Demands 5-7% Transit Fee for New Strait of Hormuz Route; Talks Advance on Wednesday

According to Iranian officials, on Wednesday, August 5, Iran and Oman are finalizing a new Strait of Hormuz passage agreement framework, though negotiations remain stalled over transit fees. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated that both nations have reached consensus on the basic structure, with a joint statement pending.

The core dispute centers on transit fees: Iran is demanding 5-7% of cargo value, while Oman has proposed 3%, and the United States insists no fees should apply. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that allowing a single nation to control international shipping lanes would set a "extremely dangerous precedent." Under the new arrangement, Iran would also gain monitoring rights over vessels entering the Persian Gulf.