Media: Iran considering charging European countries for the maintenance of the Strait of Hormuz

On 5 August, according to the British Daily Telegraph, Iran was considering charging European countries for the maintenance of the strategic watercourse under a programme to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The programme includes the establishment of a “voluntary fund” to be funded by the Gulf States and selected European members of the International Maritime Organization. Gulf and European sources indicated that the proposed voluntary costs would cover the costs of navigation management, environmental protection, search and rescue and other services in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the report, Oman believes that countries and shipowners dependent on energy supply in the Gulf region will be willing to contribute to the fund. Italy, Belgium and France are among the European countries most dependent on Gulf oil and liquefied natural gas imports. The British Government maintains that only about 1 per cent of the crude oil refined by the United Kingdom in 2025 came from the Middle East。