Iran confirms Strait of Hormuz transit fees after 60-day free-passage window

By Seo Ji-yeon, The Herald Business

Iran has reaffirmed its intention to impose transit fees on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz once a 60-day free-passage window expires, saying the waiver was a temporary measure tied to the implementation period of its end-of-war memorandum of understanding with the United States. Tehran also said negotiations with Washington concluded with the signing of the MOU and that no further talks would take place until the agreed terms are fulfilled.

Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament and head of the country's end-of-war negotiating team, said Monday in a state television interview that "under the end-of-war MOU, free passage through the Strait of Hormuz is permitted for only 60 days."

He said the measure was taken "at the strong request of regional countries and Persian Gulf littoral states" as a temporary arrangement for vessels that had been stranded when the strait was blockaded during the war.

Qalibaf said sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz belongs to Iran and Oman, and that passage must follow procedures determined entirely by Iran. "The Strait of Hormuz is Iranian territorial waters, and we will not relinquish our rights over it under any circumstances," he said.

The remarks reaffirmed Iran's existing position: free passage during the negotiation period, followed by active enforcement of its authority over the strait, including the levying of transit fees on ships.

Qalibaf also shrugged off any prospect of additional negotiations with the United States.

"Our negotiations with the United States proceeded only up to the signing of the MOU, and there are no ongoing negotiations," he said, adding that a recent visit to Switzerland was solely to discuss implementation of the MOU's five provisions and did not constitute new negotiations.

He made clear that US compliance with the agreement must come first, saying Iran "will not engage in further negotiations until the conditions of the MOU are met."

On recent military clashes in the Persian Gulf, Qalibaf said Iran considers them violations of the ceasefire agreement and will respond firmly. He claimed that US military bases in Bahrain and Kuwait had been targeted in response to recent truce violations.

He warned that while Iran is sincere about implementing the agreement, "if the other side does not keep its promises, we are prepared to go to war."

Qalibaf also characterized the end-of-war MOU as "a document proving the defeat of the United States and Israel," claiming that Israel had escalated its attacks on Lebanon in an attempt to derail the agreement, which prompted follow-up consultations on a Lebanon truce.

He also highlighted economic gains from the deal. Iran had been unable to export a single barrel of crude oil during the US maritime blockade but has since sold about 40 million barrels following the lifting of sanctions. Iranian crude is now trading at prices 20 percent higher than before, he said, and payments are being received normally.