On July 4, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, Iran's ambassador to China, stated at the World Peace Forum in Beijing, "As a country with sovereignty over the Hormuz Strait, we must impose service fees."
He emphasized that these fees are not merely tolls but cover costs related to ensuring the safety of passing vessels, oversight, and addressing environmental impacts from large ship operations.
Fazli also noted, "We will definitely consider special treatment for countries that have been friendly to us and stood by us during difficult times," mentioning China as a prime example of such a nation.
His remarks come amid ongoing discussions following Iran's signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the United States, where the normalization of the Hormuz Strait has emerged as a key issue.
In related developments, some vessels transiting the Hormuz Strait have been observed abruptly changing course. Bloomberg reported that between July 3 and 4, ships attempting to exit the Persian Gulf via Oman’s route suddenly altered their paths, as confirmed by route tracking data.
At least eight vessels, including oil tankers, bulk carriers, and car carriers, made U-turns. Among them, one crude oil tanker, two oil product tankers, and one bulk carrier were identified as having moved closer to Iranian waters while exiting the Persian Gulf.
The exact reasons for these course changes remain unclear. However, Iran has consistently claimed that vessels must pass through designated approved routes. Reports indicate that Iran has been warning ships attempting to use alternative routes via radio. Some vessels reportedly ignored these warnings and continued their journeys, leading to attacks on them.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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