Iranian Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf Announces Plans to Impose Fees on Hormuz Strait Passage

June 18, Kathmandu – Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, has announced that fees will be charged for passage through the Hormuz Strait, contradicting previous agreements with the United States. In an interview with state television, Speaker Ghalibaf stated that the situation in the Hormuz Strait will not revert to pre-war conditions. “The Hormuz Strait will not return to its status before the war,” he said. “Iran holds sovereignty over this waterway, and fees will be collected for its services.”

However, the agreement between the US and Iran explicitly states that Iran will not collect taxes from ships transiting the Hormuz Strait. This agreement was virtually signed by US President Donald Trump during the G7 summit held in France. The 14-point agreement, known as the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), includes clauses under which Iran commits not to develop nuclear weapons, among other conditions. Speaker Ghalibaf also commented that the foundation of the initial peace agreement between the US and Iran is weak. US President Donald Trump has warned that if Iran fails to fulfill its commitments, military action will be resumed.