Europe is preparing to pay for passage through the Strait of Hormuz — Bloomberg
European countries are increasingly leaning toward the idea that the passage of merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz may be subject to a fee in the future. At present, the main issue remains the amount of the potential fees.
According to sources, a number of European countries are prepared to agree to the introduction of tolls for ship passage, with the proceeds going to Iran and Oman. This position is also unofficially supported by some representatives of the Gulf states.
At the same time, the United States, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain are categorically opposed to any tolls. They fear this would set a dangerous precedent for other international shipping lanes.
It is reported that European countries have also called on Iran and Oman not to impose discriminatory conditions on ships based on their flag state.
In addition, the United Kingdom and France support the idea of forming an international maritime coalition to ensure the safety of shipping and clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz. However, the implementation of this initiative will depend on the progress of negotiations between the United States and Iran.
Source: Bloomberg.
As a reminder, on June 26, global oil prices fell by about 2% due to an increase in the number of tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Exports of mineral fertilizers through the Strait of Hormuz have shown rapid growth, bringing supply volumes to the global market back to the levels recorded before the military escalation began.
