Iran and Oman plan to charge transit fees for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz under a two-week ceasefire agreement, according to reports on Wednesday, April 8.
The move would mark a shift from the strait’s previous status as a toll-free international waterway, The Associated Press reported.
A regional official involved in the negotiations said both countries would be allowed to collect fees from vessels transiting the route, speaking on condition of anonymity, AP reported.
Iran is expected to use the funds for reconstruction, while it remains unclear how Oman would allocate its share.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency also reported that fees could be introduced during the ceasefire period, according to CNN.
The Strait of Hormuz has been largely disrupted since Tel Aviv and Washington started the war, with shipping volumes dropping sharply, CNN reported.
Some vessels have continued to pass, with reports suggesting Tehran has charged up to $2 million per ship for transit, though it remains unclear how widely such fees have been implemented.
Earlier US President Donald Trump said he had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, just hours before a deadline he had set for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, under threat that if they didn’t comply, “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.”
Trump’s announcement came after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif proposed a temporary halt in fighting to allow diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran. However, Israel continued military operations in Lebanon on Wednesday, despite a newly announced two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran that does not cover the Lebanese front.
On Monday, Iran delivered a 10-point proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel. Two senior Iranian officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the proposal included a guarantee that Iran would not be attacked again, a cessation of Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the lifting of all sanctions.
While the full text of the Iranian plan has not been released, it reportedly outlines safe passage through the Strait, demands the lifting of sanctions, calls for reconstruction of damaged infrastructure, and seeks an end to regional hostilities.