Qatar backs temporary Hormuz toll tax
News Desk
Qatar: Qatar has said that a temporary toll tax on ships passing through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz could be considered under certain circumstances, while rejecting the idea of imposing such charges on a permanent basis.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue Security Forum in Singapore, Qatari Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Saud Abdulrahman Al-Thani said that a permanent toll tax on international shipping would ultimately increase costs for global consumers and was therefore unacceptable.
However, he added that if Iran were to collect temporary charges for purposes such as mine clearance and ensuring maritime safety, the matter could be discussed for a limited period.
The remarks came amid heightened tensions in the Gulf region following recent developments surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes.
According to Iranian authorities, 24 ships, including oil tankers and container vessels, passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours after US President Donald Trump announced the reopening of the waterway and the end of the naval blockade on Iran.
Read More: https://thepenpk.com/why-the-strait-of-hormuz-matters-to-pakistan/
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the vessels crossed the strait with the cooperation of the Iranian Navy.
At the same time, the Iranian military issued a warning to commercial ships and oil tankers, stating that vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without Iranian permission or outside designated routes could face “dangerous consequences.”
In an official statement, the Iranian military said that Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz remains “firm and complete,” adding that all commercial traffic must seek approval from Iranian authorities before entering the passage.
The statement warned that failure to comply could endanger both the violating vessels and surrounding maritime traffic.
Meanwhile, Mohsen Rezaei, a military adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, accused the United States of continuing what he described as a naval blockade despite Washington’s announcement.
He claimed that by maintaining pressure and making excessive demands during negotiations, President Trump had once again committed “diplomatic betrayal.”
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran was fully aware of what was required to reach an agreement with Washington, warning that the United States remained prepared for military action if talks failed.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also indicated that any easing of restrictions or blockade measures would take place gradually.
Read More: https://thepenpk.com/which-cargo-ships-are-passing-through-the-strait-of-hormuz/
Separately, Iranian lawmaker Ali Reza Salimi revealed that a proposal aimed at formalizing Iranian sovereignty and management over the Strait of Hormuz would soon be presented before parliament.
“The Strait of Hormuz is more important to Iran than dozens of nuclear weapons,” Salimi said, adding that Tehran would not compromise on control and management of the strategic waterway.
