Iran offers a 30-day Hormuz reopening plan as US-Iran standoff continues
TEHRAN, IRAN: Iran could impose a 30-day waiting period before reopening the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz under its administration, according to a member of the country's negotiating team, adding a new layer of uncertainty.
Majid Shakeri, who participated in recent talks in Islamabad, said Tehran is considering a proposal that would link the reopening of the strait to the removal of perceived threats from the United States and its allies.
“Under this proposal, Tehran should announce that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz under Iranian administration will only be possible 30 days after all threats from the United States and its allies have been removed,” Shakeri told Iran's semi-official Fars news agency.
The comments come months after the waterway was effectively shut following the outbreak of US-Israeli military strikes against Iran on February 28.
The United States subsequently imposed a naval blockade in April, further escalating tensions around the narrow maritime passage.
Proposal to charge shipping fees under review
Iranian officials are also examining plans to introduce maritime and environmental service fees for ships using the strait, a move that could significantly alter commercial shipping operations in the region.
Shina Ansari, head of Iran’s Department of Environment, said the proposal extends beyond simple toll collection and would be tied to services provided by Iranian authorities.
“The discussion is not merely about collecting fees, rather, it concerns the provision of services,” Ansari said, according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency.
The services under consideration include navigational guidance, search-and-rescue assistance, vessel security and marine environmental protection.
Iranian officials argue that the fees would also help offset environmental damage caused by heavy shipping traffic and address risks to marine ecosystems.
Trade flows remain disrupted in Strait of Hormuz
Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains well below normal levels as peace negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain deadlocked.
The waterway, which serves as a critical artery for global oil and gas exports, continues to face operational uncertainty amid the diplomatic impasse.
Iranian officials have repeatedly emphasized Tehran's sovereignty and management role over the strait, which it shares geographically with Oman.
According to a senior member of Iran's parliament, vessels receiving Iranian authorization to transit the strait are currently being charged between $1.5 million and $2 million on average.
US demands unrestricted access
The United States has rejected the idea of restrictions or charges on commercial shipping, maintaining that the Strait of Hormuz must remain fully open to international maritime traffic.
Washington has repeatedly called for unrestricted passage through the waterway after the conflict, insisting that commercial vessels should face no tolls, fees or political conditions.
With negotiations showing little sign of progress, the future of the strait, a chokepoint for a significant share of the world's energy supplies, remains at the center of the broader US-Iran confrontation.
