UN warns against Iran's tolls in Strait of Hormuz

The head of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, stated that Iran's attempt to impose tolls on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz is illegal and should be rejected by the international community. Dominguez emphasized, "Countries do not have the right to introduce tools or payments or charges on these straits," and warned that such actions would set a detrimental precedent for global shipping.

Dominguez's comments came during ongoing ceasefire talks between U.S. and Iranian officials in Pakistan, which concluded without an agreement. U.S. Vice President JD Vance noted that Iran had not accepted Washington’s terms, including commitments regarding its nuclear program. Despite a two-week ceasefire announced recently, shipping in the Strait of Hormuz remains severely impacted, with only 22 ships reported to have exited the strait since the truce began, compared to approximately 135 daily transits before the conflict.

The U.S. military has deployed warships through the strait to address concerns over Iranian mines, while President Trump expressed optimism about reopening the strait soon. Dominguez pointed out that the resolution to the blockage lies in ending the ongoing conflict, stating, "We didn’t have any issues with ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz before this conflict started."

He also highlighted the plight of around 20,000 seafarers stranded in the Gulf due to the blockade, noting that the situation could negatively impact the global economy. Dominguez reaffirmed that existing agreements, such as the 1968 traffic separation agreement between Iran and Oman, should suffice for governing the strait post-conflict, negating the need for new frameworks.