By Shumaila Aslam
Bureau Chief Pakistan
Snn News Finland
Tehran Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued a statement comparing global maritime transit fee practices, highlighting that Iran does not charge vessels for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, unlike several other major waterways worldwide.
Global Waterway Fees Cited
According to Araghchi, Egypt charges between $200,000 and $700,000 per transit through the Suez Canal, with fees exceeding $1 million for large container ships or tankers.
He noted that Panama collects between $100,000 and $450,000 per transit through the Panama Canal, with costs for large Neopanamax vessels reaching up to $500,000.
Araghchi also referenced transit fees charged by Turkey for the Bosphorus Strait, as well as fees applied by Canada and the United States for use of the St. Lawrence Seaway.
Iran’s Position on the Strait of Hormuz
Araghchi stated that Iran has “refused to charge any fee” for transit through the Strait of Hormuz for decades, describing passage through the strategic waterway as free of charge.
He framed this policy as notable given what he described as sanctions, isolation, and international criticism faced by Iran, questioning characterizations of the country as acting in bad faith on maritime matters.
Context
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global shipping route connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, through which a significant share of the world’s seaborne oil trade passes.
Iran shares control of the strait’s navigable channels with Oman.
Araghchi’s comments were made amid ongoing scrutiny of Iran’s regional posture, though the statement did not reference a specific incident or policy change regarding the strait.
Oil tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route
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