Iran has announced a fresh “service fee” on international vessels and oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically vital sea route for global energy trade. The announcement sparked concern across international trade circles, raising an immediate question: would Indian ships also have to pay this fee? On this front, however, Iran has offered India clear and official reassurance.
Speaking at the World Peace Forum in Beijing, Iran’s ambassador to China, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, addressed the issue directly. He said the Strait of Hormuz falls entirely within Iranian territorial waters, giving Tehran the right to collect a service fee from vessels passing through, though he objected to the fee being labelled a “toll tax.” Addressing India’s concerns specifically, he said countries that stood by Iran in difficult times and proved their genuine friendship would certainly receive “special treatment” in this fee structure.
Iran is yet to officially release the complete modalities or pricing table for the new fee. Even so, given the decades-long strong diplomatic relationship between India and Iran, it is understood that Indian shipping will face no trouble. Iran’s ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, had earlier given New Delhi a similar assurance, noting that despite recent tensions across the Middle East, not a single Indian tanker had been charged any fee.
Elaborating on the depth of India-Iran ties, Fathali said Iran’s and India’s interests and futures are intertwined, and that India has proven itself the most trustworthy partner during difficult times. He gave a clear assurance that Indian vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz would continue to receive full protection and a secure route going forward.
The Strait of Hormuz ranks among the busiest shipping routes in the world, with nearly a fifth (20 percent) of all globally exported crude oil and LNG passing through this single corridor. Any new rule or fee introduced by Iran along this route is bound to directly affect international oil prices and global trade. Experts view Iran’s favourable stance toward India amid such sensitive circumstances as a significant win for both India’s economy and its diplomatic standing.