Lead

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Iran will not be permitted to charge tolls or fees for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz under any final agreement with Washington, exposing one of the biggest points of friction in negotiations aimed at ending months of conflict across the Middle East. Rubio's remarks came during a regional tour to reassure Gulf partners, as an attack on a ship in the strait led the UN to suspend an effort to evacuate trapped mariners.

Coverage Comparison

The dispute over the Strait of Hormuz has been widely reported, with US and Iranian positions sharply contrasting. Al Jazeera reported that Iranian negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said vessels crossing the strait would be charged a service fee, a proposal the US has repeatedly rejected. France 24 — English quoted Rubio as saying allowing Iran to charge fees would open the door to "total chaos." The Jerusalem Post highlighted Iran's warning to Gulf states against siding with the US, following a joint statement by Washington and six Gulf states that rejected Iran's insistence on charging tolls.

TASS — English reported that oil tanker traffic through the strait has essentially stopped, citing Rystad Energy's head of geopolitical analysis Jorge Leon. The agency also noted statements by President Donald Trump, who declared the ceasefire with Iran no longer valid after reported attacks on tankers.

Key Claims

  • Rubio's rejection: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran will not be permitted to charge tolls or fees for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz under any final agreement with Washington. He argued that allowing such fees would undermine the security, stability, and prosperity of Gulf partners.
  • Iran's proposal: Iranian negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said vessels crossing the strait will be charged a service fee. Iran later announced it would waive planned transit fees for 60 days while talks with the United States continue in Switzerland.
  • UN evacuation suspended: An attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz led the UN to suspend an effort to evacuate trapped mariners. The UN had begun evacuating 11,000 sailors stranded in the strait.
  • Preliminary deal: The United States and Iran signed a preliminary agreement to end the conflict, which includes a 60-day diplomatic process addressing sanctions relief, Iran's nuclear programme, and the future administration of the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Military threat: Iran's military command has threatened ships attempting to cross the strait using unapproved routes with a "forceful response." Iranian state TV reported that three foreign tankers attempting an "unauthorized passage" were turned back after a warning from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
  • Gulf concerns: Gulf countries have longstanding concerns about Iran's support for proxies in the region and its missile programme. Foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council emphasised that lasting regional peace requires addressing the full spectrum of Iran's threats.
  • Oil tanker traffic: Oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has essentially stopped, according to Rystad Energy's Jorge Leon. Oil prices dropped by more than 3% on Friday, despite Saudi Aramco resuming crude loadings at its Ras Tanura terminal.
  • Strait's importance: The Strait of Hormuz is a critical conduit for global energy supplies, with about one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passing through it.

Perspectives

United States: Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US wants a deal but not at any price, and that no part of a deal should undermine the security, stability, or prosperity of Gulf partners. Rubio also said Iran cannot subvert the free flow of traffic in the strait.

Iran: Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz cannot be guaranteed under ambiguous arrangements or decision-making that does not take Iran's role as a coastal state into account. Iran's military command has threatened a "forceful response" to ships using unapproved routes.

Gulf Cooperation Council: Foreign ministers emphasised that "lasting regional peace and security requires addressing the full spectrum of Iran's threats, including its ballistic missiles, drones and support of proxies."