More than 60 countries have come together to oppose Iran’s reported attempt to impose fees or tariffs on cargo ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a key international sea lane. The group warned that freedom of navigation must be upheld in line with international maritime laws.
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is among the world’s most critical routes for energy shipments. Before the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran began on February 28, around one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas demand was transported through this corridor.
Iran, which has kept the Strait of Hormuz closed amid the conflict with the United States, is seeking to tighten its control over the passage and has insisted that ships using the route should pay an official charge.
In response, the coalition—comprising all European Union member states along with countries including Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada and Singapore—issued a joint statement rejecting any such levies. The declaration was formally announced by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
In a social media post, Kallas said international maritime transit is not reserved for those who can pay, and that waterways must remain open to all. She described the statement as a clear warning to those seeking to bend sea routes for self-interest, reiterating the group’s stance of “no fees, no tariffs.”
