By Al-Fassel | 2026-07-07

The Sultanate of Oman has firmly rejected any transit fees for ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz.

Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi delivered the clearest version of that message yet in a recent interview.

Speaking to Monte Carlo International Radio, he said Oman "does not support" charging vessels to use the strait.

He drew a sharp distinction between compulsory tolls and voluntary maritime services like navigational safety and environmental protection.

The remarks followed the first meeting of a new Omani-Iranian joint committee on the strait, held in Muscat.

By objecting Iran’s proposed transit fees, Oman is holding the line to ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains a free, open international waterway.

Upholding international law and a toll-free corridor

Iran initially proposed charging roughly one dollar per barrel, framing the levy as a "service fee" rather than a toll.

Tehran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority has since said any such fees would stay suspended during the current 60-day negotiation window.

Oman, which shares sovereignty over the strait with Iran, has consistently declined to facilitate a compulsory charging system.

Al-Busaidi instead pointed to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the binding legal framework.

Under UNCLOS, international straits like the Strait of Hormuz fall under the right of transit passage.

That principle guarantees free, unhindered and toll-free navigation for vessels of every nation in the world.

Oman has also coordinated directly with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations agency overseeing marine safety.

Together, they mapped out new, temporary toll-free corridors running closer to Oman's Musandam Peninsula.

Oman is using the same coordination mechanisms to help evacuate more than 11,000 sailors stranded by the conflict, although the plan has been temporarily paused.

The United States has voiced strong support for Oman's position throughout the entire standoff.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed the proposed Iranian fees and asserted that no nation holds the right to charge for international waterways.

He further stated that Gulf states demonstrate "zero support" for any tolling system, reinforcing unified regional opposition to such measures.

The US-Omani relationship continues to anchor regional stability, particularly as ongoing negotiations with Iran shape the broader geopolitical landscape.

Oman's commitment to international maritime law, paired with Washington's backing, aims to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to the world.

By standing firm against Tehran's toll demands, Oman successfully upholds international maritime law and helps guarantee unhindered global trade through the strait.