Iran, Oman negotiate possible tolls system for Strait of Hormuz even as US warns against it - NYT

From the perspective of The Jerusalem Post, the ongoing negotiations between Iran and Oman regarding potential tolls or fees for passage through the Strait of Hormuz represent a significant geopolitical maneuver with potentially destabilizing implications for global energy markets and maritime security. Iran's creation of the "Persian Gulf Strait Authority" signals a determined effort to assert control over this vital waterway, a move that directly challenges international norms and US interests.

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we don’t want tolls. It’s international. It’s an international waterway.

The US response has been unequivocal. President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have firmly rejected the idea of tolls, emphasizing the Strait's status as an international waterway. Their statements underscore a commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation and preventing any unilateral actions that could disrupt global trade or create leverage for Iran. The US views such measures as unacceptable and potentially detrimental to diplomatic efforts.

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It can’t happen. It would be unacceptable. It would make a diplomatic deal unfeasible if they were to continue to pursue that.

Adding a layer of concern, recent US intelligence reports have revealed the discovery of mines within the Strait. This development, coupled with Iran's assertive stance on managing the waterway, raises serious questions about regional stability and the safety of maritime traffic. The distinction Iran seeks to make between 'tolls' and 'fees for services' appears to be a legalistic attempt to circumvent international law, a tactic that the US and its allies are unlikely to accept. This situation highlights the complex and often tense dynamics at play in the Persian Gulf.

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defined the boundaries of the Strait of Hormuz management supervision area