International Maritime Organization: Strait of Hormuz must remain free of tolls or restrictions

The International Maritime Organization (IMO), a UN agency, announced Monday that ship passage through the Strait of Hormuz must remain open and free from any fees or restrictions, based on international law.

This affirmation comes at a time of growing tensions in the region over freedom of navigation in this vital waterway.

The statement came after US President Donald Trump announced the resumption of a naval blockade on Iran and the imposition of a 20% tax on other ships' cargoes using the strait.

The organization's Executive Council, composed of 40 countries including the United States, affirmed that the right of passage in straits used for international navigation must not be infringed, disrupted, restricted, or suspended, stressing the organization's commitment to protecting freedom of navigation and the safety of seafarers.

Trump's announcement of imposing tolls on transit in Hormuz comes despite US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's assertion in late June that Washington would not allow any fees on ships, describing the strait as a navigational passage where no country supports imposing a fee for transit.

War on Iran

{{displayname}}

{{profession}}

{{followercount}}

{{aboutme}}

These statements represent a new escalatory step in the ongoing dispute between Washington and Tehran over the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of global oil supplies pass. Any restriction on navigation would raise energy prices and threaten global economic stability. The international community's stance in defending freedom of navigation remains crucial in preventing any unilateral actions.