Shipping groups urge UN to block Iran's Hormuz tolls

Strait of Hormuz Iran toll proposal shipping industry UN freedom of navigation

Eight of the world’s largest shipping organisations, including the Asian Shipowners’ Association, BIMCO, INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO and the World Shipping Council, sent a joint open letter to UN Secretary‑General António Guterres and IMO Secretary‑General Arsenio Domínguez. The letter urges the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization to reject any compulsory transit fees or service charges for vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

The groups warn that such fees would breach the freedom‑of‑navigation principle enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, set a dangerous precedent for other strategic waterways, and increase shipping costs, energy prices and inflation worldwide. They cite Iran’s recent proposal of a 7 % toll that could generate more than $385 million a day – over $100 billion a year – or up to $2 million per vessel passage.

Iran and Oman are reportedly negotiating a new framework for the strait’s management, which could give Iran oversight of vessel movements and require prior permission, insurance or fees. The shipping industry stresses that any such arrangement must preserve free navigation and seafarer safety, and calls on the UN and IMO to block the tolls before they become law.

Entities: Antonio Guterres · Arsenio Domínguez · International Maritime Organization · Iran · Strait of Hormuz · United Nations

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 4 SOURCES] Iran and Oman are negotiating a framework for future management of the Strait of Hormuz that could give Iran oversight of vessel movements. (negotiations)
[● 7 SOURCES] Compulsory transit fees would violate the freedom of navigation principle under UNCLOS. (shipping organisations)
[● 7 SOURCES] The proposed tolls would raise global shipping costs, energy prices and inflation. (shipping organisations)
[● 7 SOURCES] The letter was signed by organisations including the Asian Shipowners’ Association, BIMCO, INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO and the World Shipping Council. (signatories)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The proposed toll could amount to up to $2 million per vessel passage through the Strait of Hormuz. (shipping organisations' estimate)
[● 7 SOURCES] Eight major shipping organisations sent a joint open letter to UN Secretary‑General António Guterres and IMO Secretary‑General Arsenio Domínguez urging rejection of compulsory transit fees in the Str (shipping industry)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Iran has proposed a 7 % mandatory transit toll on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, potentially generating over $385 million daily net revenue. (Iranian proposal)