The head of the United Nations' International Maritime Organization (IMO) has called on the international community to reject any attempt by Iran to impose tolls on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically significant shipping lanes.
Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera, the IMO chief stated that Iran must not be permitted to charge fees for passage through the strait, which serves as a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies and international trade.
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Roughly 20 percent of the world's oil supply passes through the narrow waterway, making it one of the most important maritime corridors on the planet. Any disruption or cost increase tied to transit through the strait could have significant ripple effects on global energy prices and supply chains.
The IMO chief's comments come amid longstanding tensions over freedom of navigation in the strait. Iran has periodically threatened to restrict or control access to the waterway during periods of heightened regional tension, particularly in response to international sanctions targeting its oil exports.
Freedom of navigation at stake
The principle of freedom of navigation in internationally recognized straits used for shipping is enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Under international maritime law, all vessels have the right of transit passage through such straits, and coastal states are generally not permitted to obstruct or levy charges on that transit.
The IMO, which serves as the UN's specialized agency responsible for regulating international shipping, has consistently upheld these principles. The organization's chief indicated that the global community should stand united in opposing any unilateral attempt to monetize passage through the strait.
Iran has not formally enacted a toll policy on Hormuz transit, but the prospect has been raised in various forms by Iranian officials over the years, typically during diplomatic standoffs with Western nations or Gulf neighbors.
Regional and global implications
Major oil exporters including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Iraq rely heavily on the strait to move their petroleum exports to global markets. Disruption or new costs associated with Hormuz passage would affect not only regional producers but also importers across Asia, Europe, and beyond.
The IMO chief's statement to Al Jazeera represents a pointed public warning from an international body that rarely engages in direct political confrontations, signaling the level of concern the proposal has raised within multilateral institutions.
