Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted yesterday that there will be no tolls for passage through the Strait of Hormuz. “These are—it’s an international waterway,” he said during a press conference in Abu Dhabi yesterday. “No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway. That’s existing international law. That’s the way it is in international waterways all over the world, and that’s the way we expect it’ll be here.”
Iran and Oman issued a joint statement following the meetings of Iranian negotiating team with the Omani foreign minister and the Sultan which implies they may make their own arrangements for the strait. “The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Sultanate of Oman as the Coastal States of the Strait of Hormuz, reaffirm their commitment to the safe passage through the Strait, in line with applicable international law, while emphasizing their sovereignty and sovereign rights over their territorial waters in the Strait of Hormuz,” it said. “The two sides discussed matters relating to the Strait of Hormuz, in accordance with the provisions of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. “
“They agreed to maintain their dialogue on this issue through a joint working group between the two foreign ministries in order to reach agreement on the future administration of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the services that will be provided in this regard and the costs associated with them (emphasis added -ed.) in accordance with international standards. In this context, they have also agreed to hold discussions with the littoral States in the region, and with any other relevant parties.
