Oman has firmly rejected any proposal to impose shipping fees on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors must remain open, free and governed by international law despite rising tensions between the United States and Iran.
Speaking on Monday, Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi reaffirmed Muscat’s commitment to ensuring safe and unhindered navigation through the strategic waterway, stressing that any future arrangements with Iran must fully comply with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
According to al-Busaidi, while Oman continues to engage Iran on future navigation arrangements, it does not support the introduction of transit tolls for ships using the strait.
“We are committed to international law, and any agreement concerning the Strait of Hormuz must remain within that framework,” he said.
The statement comes as diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Washington and Tehran intensify. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France and Oman would work with international partners to improve maritime security, including efforts to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz to guarantee free and unconditional passage.
At the same time, Qatar temporarily suspended the movement of leisure boats, fishing vessels and jet skis in its territorial waters as a precautionary security measure, although commercial shipping operating under international maritime rules remains unaffected.
The security measures follow continued negotiations over the future of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route through which nearly 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass.
While reports suggested U.S. and Iranian technical teams were expected to meet in Doha to discuss implementing an interim agreement, conflicting statements from both governments cast doubt on the timeline.
U.S. President Donald Trump said talks would resume in Doha at Iran’s request, but Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, maintained that no technical meetings had been scheduled and insisted discussions would only continue after Tehran’s conditions were met.
The White House also confirmed that senior U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were travelling to Doha for high-level negotiations, warning that any renewed violence would receive a firm response.
The diplomatic push follows weeks of military escalation, including attacks on commercial vessels, missile and drone strikes involving U.S. military bases in the Gulf, and retaliatory operations by both sides.
Despite the fragile ceasefire reached under a 14-point agreement signed on June 17, disagreements over security and control of the Strait of Hormuz continue to threaten regional stability, making ongoing negotiations critical to global energy supplies and international trade.
