Iran launches digital insurance for navigation safety in the Strait of Hormuz, settling payments via Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
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Iran plans to charge a service fee for navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international standards.
According to BlockBeats, on July 5th, Iranian Ambassador to China Abdulreza Rahmani Fazli stated in a media interview during the 14th World Peace Forum in Beijing on July 4th that Iran plans to charge a service fee for navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, in accordance with international standards. Fazli stated that before the outbreak of the Iran-Israel war, navigation through the Strait of Hormuz was unimpeded. Currently, Iran has not announced any fees or tariffs, but plans to charge a service fee according to international standards to cover routine expenses such as ensuring navigational safety, navigation, and environmental protection—a practice consistent with other waterways worldwide. Regarding the current situation of the Strait of Hormuz, Fazli said that navigation through the strait is gradually returning to normal, and order is being restored in the passage jointly managed by Iran and Oman.
Iran launches at least two missiles at ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Mars Finance, on July 7th, AXIOS reported that a US official stated that Iran fired at least two missiles at ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Two merchant ships were hit and severely damaged, but there were no casualties.
Iranian Armed Forces: US Interference in the Strait of Hormuz Will Provoke Retaliation
According to a Odaily by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting on the 2nd, the Central Headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces, Hatam Anbia, issued a statement that day saying that the Iranian Armed Forces will respond "resolutely and swiftly" to any interference by the United States in the Strait of Hormuz. The statement said that the Strait of Hormuz is not a place for the United States to act recklessly. The security and stability of this crucial waterway is a "red line" for the Iranian armed forces. The statement indicated that all oil tankers and merchant ships wishing to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz must follow the routes designated by Iran. Any violation of these routes, any deviation from them, or any disregard for navigation regulations will be met with a response from the Iranian armed forces and will endanger the safety of the offending vessels. (Xinhua)
Sources: Oman has proposed charging Iran a passage fee for the Strait of Hormuz, a proposal the United States opposes.
According to a report by The New York Times on June 30, multiple informed officials and diplomatic sources revealed that Oman has submitted a formal proposal to the United States and its Western allies to jointly charge vessels transit fees through the Strait of Hormuz with Iran in order to support waterway safety and operational management. The report states that the proposal partially references the operational models of the Strait of Malacca and the Singapore Strait. Regional diplomatic sources indicated that the fees are intended to be voluntary, but Iran maintains that payments will be mandatory. The United States has received Oman's proposal and expressed concerns about the arrangements, stating it will continue consultations with Oman. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously stated that the US opposes any form of charging for navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, including "fees, transit fees, or donations," and believes that the pre-war freedom of navigation should be restored. The report points out that the future management arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz remain a key issue in the US-Iran peace negotiations. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that Iran will soon begin negotiations with Oman to discuss matters including the fee mechanism and adjustments to shipping routes.
Iran refuses to recognize the 1968 Strait of Hormuz navigation agreement and demands renegotiation of the rules of passage.
According to a report by The New York Times on June 30th, BlockBeats reported that Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Gharibabadi reiterated this week Iran's permanent control over shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and refused to recognize the internationally recognized shipping lane arrangement established in 1968. This stance has strained the fragile ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran. The shipping lane agreement, negotiated by then-officials from Iran and Oman and approved by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), primarily addresses the collision risks of supertankers navigating the narrow 24-mile-wide strait. It also has legal significance due to the overlap of Iranian and Omani territorial waters and the absence of neutral international waters in the central part of the strait. Gharibabadi stated that the agreement predates the 1979 Islamic Revolution, adding, "We have now informed Oman that these shipping lanes must be changed," and that both sides have decided to initiate expert and technical negotiations regarding the lane adjustments. Ali Vaez, director of the Iran project at the International Crisis Group, believes that Iran, as a regional military power in the past, did not need to use its geographical location as leverage. However, officials now believe that traditional shipping lanes allow warships to pass through the Strait, posing a threat to Iran's security. Jennifer Parker, an expert at the Institute for Defence and Security Studies at the University of Western Australia, stated that Iran is packaging its position with a more legally sound narrative, aiming to maximize its bargaining power at the negotiating table. It is worth noting that Iran has previously laid mines in the Strait, effectively blocking the shipping lane established in 1968. The United States and Oman have recently attempted to establish an alternative passage in Omani waters south of the Strait, escorted by US forces. However, Gharibabadi reiterated on Monday that Iran will refuse to recognize any such parallel shipping lanes.
The number of ships in the Strait of Hormuz's Omani shipping lanes has sharply decreased, and Iran continues to strengthen its control over the waterways.
According to Mars Finance, on July 5th, reports indicated a significant decrease in the number of ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman on Sunday. This followed a sharp turnaround the previous day by several vessels attempting to leave the strait along the route, highlighting Iran's continued efforts to strengthen its control over this strategic waterway. An oil tanker that turned back on Saturday appears to be attempting to pass again and has now passed the northernmost tip of Oman's Musandem Peninsula. Earlier, another oil tanker also traveled along the same route and publicly announced its intention to navigate, currently broadcasting its position information in the Gulf of Oman. Other vessels are opting for unauthorized transit. A Suezmax crude oil tanker appeared in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday after its last position broadcast in the Persian Gulf on Saturday. Between Friday and Saturday, at least eight vessels suddenly turned back while transiting the Strait of Hormuz along the Omani route. Four of these subsequently changed course northward, exiting the strait via the Iranian side of the route. There is currently no official explanation for these sudden turns. However, Iran has repeatedly stated that ships can only transit the Strait of Hormuz via designated and authorized routes. According to Kpler data, 19 ships transited the Strait of Hormuz in both directions on Saturday, but only one ship publicly indicated it would enter the strait via the Omani coastal route, compared to 13 ships using that route on Friday. These statistics only cover observable navigation activities.