Foreign media: Iran seeks to charge 5 to 7 per cent of the value of cargo to ships in transit through the Strait

On 6 August, according to Reuters on Wednesday, a senior Iranian source and two regional officials, the proposed Iran-Oman agreement would give Iran control over vessels entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the greatest concessions Iran has made to date. Iran subsequently indicated that its vessels would pass through Iranian waters in and out of the bay. Regional sources indicated that details remained to be determined on how “control” was defined. According to Iranian sources, the text of the agreement currently on the table envisages that Iran will control ships entering the Gulf through the Strait, and one of the main disputes is what role Iran should play with respect to the ship heading out. The Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran then stated: “The route is designed in such a way that both commercial vessels will pass through Iranian territorial waters.” Senior Iranian officials disclosed that Iran was seeking to charge the equivalent of 5 to 7 per cent of the value of the cargo to vessels using the Strait, that Oman was discussing a lower cost of about 3 per cent, and that Washington hoped that there would be no charge at all. Voluntary nominal payment of fees may be a way to break the deadlock, although, under the threat of a possible attack by Iran, shipping companies may have to pay for passage。