Iran’s ambassador to Beijing said Saturday that tolls would be imposed on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, an idea that Washington has rejected, while assuring that “friendly” countries will receive “special” treatment.

The original framework agreementframework agreement reached between Iran and the United States to end the war stipulated that commercial ships would be able to pass through the Strait free of charge for 60 days, but uncertainty remains as to what will happen after that deadline.

Iranian Ambassador Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli stated at the World Peace Forum in Beijing that his country is working “in cooperation and partnership” with Oman on “new arrangements” for this strategic sea route, a key transit point for global hydrocarbon trade.

“As a country for which the Strait of Hormuz is part of our territorial waters, we will certainly impose a fee for the services provided,” the ambassador said, according to translated remarks, while insisting that this would not be a “toll.”

“These new arrangements will concern ensuring the safety of transit through the Strait of Hormuz, monitoring the passage of ships, and taking into account the environmental impact of the large number of ships” passing through there, he added.

“We will certainly consider special treatment for countries that have been friendly and stood firmly by our side during difficult times,” he continued.

In peacetime, one-fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which were largely blocked following the start of Israeli-American strikes on February 28, a development that led to a rise in energy prices.

Iran lifted its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the United States on June 17. Negotiations for a permanent resolution to the conflict are ongoing.

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Source: KYPE