EU and Gulf Nations demand open Strait of Hormuz as Europe reviews navigation fee proposals

The European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council issued a joint statement urging Iran to cease attacks on commercial shipping and to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for international navigation without any fees or conditions, citing United Nations maritime law. The declaration was made after a high‑level forum in Brussels attended by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and GCC leaders.

At the same time, several European governments, including the United Kingdom, are evaluating proposals for non‑compulsory navigation charges in the strait. Officials cite existing toll regimes in waterways such as the Strait of Malacca and the English Channel, while the UK deputy prime minister warned that mandatory tolls could be disastrous. Oman, working with British legal experts, has drafted a framework for optional fees, and Qatar warned that any arrangement must respect international maritime law. The United States has also called on Iran to publicly guarantee the safety of vessels transiting the waterway.

These discussions occur amid broader diplomatic efforts involving Iran, Oman and Qatar to fully reopen the median lane of the strait and restore unrestricted maritime movement.