Iran-Oman Hormuz framework to impose ‘service fees’
Tehran
Iran on Thursday warned that it would “black out the entire region if the United States struck its power plants”, intensifying its threats towards its Gulf neighbours from last week, two officials told AFP.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump warned of a massive attack against Iran, which he later walked back over the weekend, citing requests from Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar and hope for a breakthrough in talks.
“Iran threatened to black out the Gulf, country by country, if Trump attacked its power plants,” a Gulf official told AFP, with another regional official confirming the messaging.
Both spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.
Iran-Oman Hormuz framework to impose ‘service fees’: report
A proposed negotiating framework between Iran and Oman would require ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz to pay fees for a range of maritime services, while eventually replacing the existing northern and southern shipping lanes with a centrally managed corridor, according to an informed source at Iran’s Foreign Ministry.
The source told Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency that, during an initial transitional period, vessels would enter the Strait of Hormuz through the northern shipping lane near Iran’s coast and exit through the southern shipping lane near Oman’s coast.
After the transition, traffic through both the northern and southern lanes would cease, with all vessels passing through a central shipping lane. Under the proposal, inbound traffic would be managed by Iran, while outbound traffic would be managed jointly by Iran and Oman.
The source said vessels transiting the strait would be required to pay charges in the form of fees for services provided.
Those services would include insurance, bunkering (fueling), environmental protection and similar maritime support, the source said.
The source dismissed reports claiming that Iran and Oman were divided over whether to charge ships 7% or 3% of the value of their cargo, describing such reports as inaccurate.
Instead, the fees collected from ships would vary depending on multiple factors, including the scope of services Iran can provide, the source said.
Saudi defence ministry announces appointment of commander leading maritime defence coalition
The Saudi defence ministry on Thursday appointed a commander who will lead a maritime coalition comprising Gulf countries.
“The Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announces the appointment of Rear Admiral (Staff) Abdullah bin Salem Al-Shahri as the Coalition Commander,” according to the statement.
“This represents a key step in advancing the coalition’s institutional development and enhancing its operational readiness,” it added.
The statement further stated that “this appointment reflects the commitment of the founding states to completing the coalition’s leadership structure, thereby strengthening its readiness to carry out its defensive missions in support of maritime security, protecting freedom of navigation, securing maritime routes and strategic straits, and safeguarding international trade and global supply chains within the coalition’s area of responsibility, in accordance with its charter and the provisions of international law.”
The coalition is set to hold a planners’ meeting from August 12-13 to complete the “remaining institutional requirements”.
