Iran Envoy Says Hormuz Fees Will Favor Friendly States

Iran's ambassador to China, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, told the World Peace Forum in Beijing that Tehran will charge service fees, not tolls, for ships using the Strait of Hormuz and will give friendly countries special treatment. AFP pickups said he described coordination with Oman, security supervision and environmental costs; Bloomberg pickups said China, which buys most Iranian oil exports, was singled out for consideration. The United States and Gulf partners oppose Iranian or Omani charges, while some European states now see some fee as likely. For Israel, the warning is strategic: Iran is trying to convert postwar maritime reopening into leverage over energy, sanctions and allies.