European countries are studying proposals that could allow voluntary navigation fees for ships using the Strait of Hormuz, provided the charges are not compulsory and have the support of the United Nations agency responsible for regulating maritime transport.
Britain's Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said compulsory tolls would be "disastrous". However, some cabinet colleagues noted that voluntary payments for navigational services are already used in waterways such as the Strait of Malacca and the English Channel.
The proposal, developed by Oman with the assistance of British legal experts, is based on the cooperative model used in the Strait of Malacca. Oman has offered to send legal experts to Tehran to explain the plan.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is scheduled to visit Oman on Saturday for talks focused on the Strait of Hormuz and shipping safety. According to Iranian state media, the discussions are a continuation of consultations that began one to two months ago.
Oman, which controls most of the navigable waters in the strait, opposes compulsory transit fees. Its representative at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council said the right of transit passage through international straits is guaranteed under international law and does not support mandatory charges. However, Oman is open to voluntary arrangements for navigational support services to improve maritime safety, environmental protection and emergency preparedness.
The developments come as US officials urged Iran to publicly state that the Strait of Hormuz remains open and that commercial shipping can pass safely without being attacked. US officials also said internal divisions in Tehran were complicating efforts to reach and maintain agreements.
At an IMO Council meeting in London, an alliance of Gulf and European countries sought a resolution condemning Iran over attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The proposal did not receive the support of Russia or China.