Badr Albusaidi, the Foreign Minister of Oman, announced during a joint meeting of ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and the United States in Bahrain that no tolls or fees would be considered for the transit of ships in any future arrangements related to the Strait of Hormuz.
During the meeting, Bahrain also welcomed Oman’s initiative to establish a new maritime route in the Strait of Hormuz. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the Foreign Minister of Bahrain, referenced the plan and declared his country’s support for the new route. These remarks came as Bahrain chaired the GCC meeting, which was attended by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Oman recently announced the creation of a secure route for ship transit through the Strait of Hormuz. However, in response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said in a statement that “the only authorized route for passing through the Strait of Hormuz is the route declared by the Islamic Republic of Iran,” describing any alternative path as “unacceptable and dangerous.”
At the same meeting, the U.S. Secretary of State also warned that any potential imposition of tolls on ship transit could have broader consequences for other international waterways. He emphasized that international waterways do not belong to any specific country and that imposing restrictions on them could lead to global disorder.
