Muscat (HRNW)- Despite opposition from the United States and Gulf countries, Oman has indicated that it will charge commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz for certain services.
According to a report by the American magazine Bloomberg, Oman has informed European authorities that it is considering imposing a fee to protect the Strait of Hormuz from pollution, monitor the sea passage and provide safe passage for ships.
Omani officials say that after the recent tensions, it is not possible to return the Strait of Hormuz to its pre-war condition, but Oman will continue to fully comply with international maritime laws.
According to officials, no tax can be charged from commercial ships, but only appropriate fees can be charged in exchange for services such as environmental protection and facilitating sea passage.
On the other hand, Qatar has also taken a cautious stance on this issue. Qatari officials have previously said that they will discuss the costs and arrangements for the sea routes with Iran.
It should be noted that both Oman and Qatar signed a declaration by the Gulf Cooperation Council opposing the imposition of tolls or fees in the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has already made it clear that there should be no fees or taxes on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz and that no country is authorized to collect taxes in exchange for passing through this important global shipping lane.
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