Tehran, Aug 2026 : Iran has said that maritime services provided to vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz should be subject to appropriate fees, as Tehran and Oman continue negotiations on establishing a new temporary shipping route through the strategically important waterway.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei made the remarks during his weekly press conference on Monday while responding to questions about whether the issue of charging fees for maritime services had been discussed during negotiations between Iran and Oman.
“Generally, when you provide maritime services, you must be reimbursed for them,” Baghaei said, while making it clear that the two sides were not currently discussing the finer details of such arrangements.
“At this stage, we do not discuss such details,” he said, adding that negotiations were continuing and that several technical issues still needed to be addressed.
Baghaei described the Iran-Oman discussions as smooth and constructive, saying the two countries were working on mechanisms aimed at ensuring safe maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The proposed arrangements would also cover environmental protection, the provision of maritime services and measures to combat criminal activities in the waterway.
According to Baghaei, a potential agreement could see the existing northern and southern navigation routes in the Strait of Hormuz temporarily replaced by an intermediate route. This arrangement would remain in place until Iran and Oman reach agreement on a new traffic separation scheme for vessels using the strategic waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime passages and serves as a critical route for global energy supplies. Any disruption to shipping through the waterway has the potential to affect international oil and gas markets and maritime trade.
Baghaei also reiterated Tehran’s position on the circumstances surrounding the closure of the Strait. He attributed the closure to what he described as US and Israeli military aggression against Iran and said the reopening of the waterway would depend on the removal of the conditions imposed on Iran.
The Iranian spokesperson also maintained that Tehran is not currently engaged in direct negotiations with Washington. However, he acknowledged that messages continue to be exchanged between the two countries through intermediaries.
His comments came amid reports that US President Donald Trump had described contacts with Iran as only “semi-negotiating”. According to Axios, Trump said on Sunday that the United States was prepared to allow economic pressure on Iran to increase rather than immediately ordering another military offensive.
“We are low-keying it,” Trump reportedly told Axios, while claiming that Iran was facing severe economic difficulties.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts surrounding maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz appear to be continuing. A traffic agreement involving Iran, Oman and the United States has reportedly been under consideration, with the arrangement remaining pending for several days.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that Tehran and Muscat were “very close” to reaching an agreement on a temporary maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz.
The proposed route is expected to provide a framework for safer and more organised maritime movement while longer-term arrangements are negotiated. The discussions between Iran and Oman are therefore focused not only on navigation but also on establishing mechanisms for maritime safety, environmental protection and emergency services.
The latest developments highlight the continuing diplomatic and strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, where regional security concerns and international energy interests intersect.
