U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States will not allow any tolls or fees on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The stance aims to preserve freedom of navigation in one of the world's most critical maritime corridors. Any agreement to permit such charges would potentially disrupt global trade and complicate the security landscape of the region.
Rubio said this following a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting in Bahrain during a recent tour of Gulf nations [1]. He said there is no agreement to permit such fees on vessels passing through the international waters of the strait [2].
According to officials, Gulf partners expressed zero support for charging vessels in these waters [3]. The U.S. position is intended to avoid undermining ongoing nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran [3].
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions in the region. Recent instability has impacted maritime personnel, including more than 11,000 sailors whose evacuation was paused by the International Maritime Organization following a cargo-ship attack in the Strait of Hormuz [4].
Rubio said the U.S. remains committed to ensuring the security of its allies while maintaining open sea lanes. The rejection of tolls is a signal to both regional partners and adversaries that the U.S. will not tolerate the monetization of transit through the strait [1], [2].
“The US will not allow any tolls or fees on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.”
By formally rejecting the imposition of transit fees, the U.S. is reinforcing the legal principle of 'transit passage' under international law. This move prevents the Strait of Hormuz from becoming a revenue source for regional powers, which would likely increase shipping costs globally and create a diplomatic precedent that could be exploited by Iran to exert leverage during nuclear negotiations.
