Oman proposes Hormuz management system with voluntary fees, source says

Oman has put forward a proposal for the joint regional management of the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting that shipping companies contribute voluntary fees. A Gulf source revealed this plan to Reuters on Tuesday, noting that it has garnered regional support and was presented to Iranian officials in Tehran over the weekend.

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint that previously handled a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas, has become a focal point of conflict and a major obstacle in peace talks. Iran maintains that the strait cannot revert to its pre-war status of unimpeded shipping, while Gulf states insist on avoiding mandatory fees to Iran.

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Any proposal for new shipping routes or traffic management measures should be submitted to IMO for consideration by member states.

Under Oman's proposal, Iran would not hold exclusive control over the strait. The model is inspired by the Strait of Malacca, which is jointly managed by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. In that system, shipping firms contribute to maintaining navigational safety aids, such as buoys and lighthouses.

Similarly, the Omani plan envisions voluntary contributions from users of the Strait of Hormuz to a fund supporting navigation management, environmental protection, and search and rescue operations. An Omani foreign ministry official did not provide comment on the proposal. The UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO) stated it was not involved in these discussions, emphasizing that any new traffic management proposals should be submitted to the IMO for member state consideration.

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does not support the imposition of transit fees on vessels passing through the strait. At the same time ... Oman sees merit in exploring voluntary arrangements relating to navigational support services.