London – The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, delivered a powerful legal rebuff to proposals calling for fees on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that “there is no legal basis” for imposing taxes or tolls on international navigation. During a press conference in London, Dominguez explained that the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) guarantees the “right of transit passage” for commercial vessels without financial constraints or administrative obstacles. These remarks come in response to reports that Tehran is considering “transit fees” as a condition for securing the waterway—a move the UN official deemed a clear violation of international norms governing global trade.
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Dominguez emphasized that international maritime corridors must remain open and detached from political or security disputes, warning that imposing any illegal fees would further complicate the global supply chain crisis. Obviously, the organization is cautiously monitoring escalating regional tensions, viewing any attempt to “commodify” passage through the strait as a trigger for a massive spike in shipping costs and maritime insurance. As a result, the IMO affirmed that the fluidity of navigation in Hormuz is not just a regional interest but a fundamental pillar of global economic stability, which cannot withstand further shocks in energy prices.
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These diplomatic maneuvers come at a sensitive time as global markets experience disruptions in oil and gas supplies due to the security situation in the strait. Accordingly, analysts believe the IMO’s statements aim to block any attempts to impose a new financial reality on this vital corridor. Amid ongoing international disputes, the focus remains on major powers’ commitment to upholding maritime laws, ensuring the Strait of Hormuz does not turn into a point of economic leverage targeting supply chains, amid calls for international guarantees to prevent the recurrence of such proposals that threaten freedom of navigation.
