Oman guarantees: no transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz — freedom of navigation restored
Joint meeting in Bahrain, support for the US-Iran memorandum, coordination with Tehran, and commitment to international law. Oman, as a coastal state, takes special responsibility for the safety of maritime routes.
As reported by CCTV+, on Thursday Oman said that future arrangements concerning the Strait of Hormuz will not include the imposition of transit fees, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring free and safe navigation through this strategically vital waterway. This was stated by Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al-Busaidi during a joint ministerial meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the United States in Bahrain.
Al-Busaidi noted that Oman, as a coastal state of the Strait of Hormuz, bears special responsibility for supporting international efforts to ensure the safety of maritime navigation in accordance with its obligations under international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The minister also reaffirmed Oman's support for the memorandum of understanding signed between the US and Iran, stressing the importance of achieving its goals to realise the desired peace. He emphasised the importance of restoring freedom of navigation through the Strait and ensuring the safe flow of maritime traffic.
Also on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Al-Busaidi stressed in a phone call the importance of continued coordination in managing the strait.
Oman is one of the coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz, along with Iran and the United Arab Emirates. The strait connects the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman and is one of the world's busiest sea lanes, through which about 20% of global oil passes. The US-Iran memorandum of understanding, signed on June 19, ended the conflict that had been ongoing since late February and provides for a 60 day transition period. Oman's statement that no transit fees will be imposed removes one of the key concerns of shipowners and insurance companies.
When Oman, Iran and the US sit down at the same table, and the foreign minister of Muscat promises that the strait will remain free and without charges, the world receives a rare signal: diplomacy works. Twenty percent of global oil can again flow without hindrance, and shipowners breathe a sigh of relief. But behind this simple statement lies a long path of negotiations, concessions and mutual trust. The Strait of Hormuz is not just water. It is the artery of the global economy. And when it is open again and fees are waived, the hope that the conflict is truly receding becomes just a little more real. All that remains is to turn those words into lasting peace.
