'Will Make Deal Unfeasible': Rubio Red Flags Iran's Plan For Hormuz Toll With Oman

Amid reports that Iran is discussing a permanent toll arrangement with Oman for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that Washington will not tolerate any attempt by Tehran to control or monetise access to the strategic waterway, calling such moves a threat to global trade and freedom of navigation.

In an interview with Fox News, Rubio criticised Iran's efforts to regulate vessel movement through the Strait, saying Tehran cannot “normalise” a system where ships require Iranian approval or payments to pass through the route.

ALSO READ | Iran In Talks With Oman Over Permanent Toll System For Hormuz

“If what they mean by opening the Straits is ‘Yes, the straits are open as long as you coordinate with Iran. Get our permission, or we'll blow you up and pay us.' That's not opening the Strait. That is an international waterway,” Rubio said.

“They cannot normalise, nor can we tolerate them trying to normalise, a system in which the Iranians decide who gets to use an international waterway and how much you have to pay them to use it,” he added.

The remarks come amid rising maritime tensions in the Gulf after Iran reportedly imposed transit fees on vessels using the Strait of Hormuz, a key energy corridor through which nearly one-fifth of global oil and LNG supplies pass.

According to Iranian state media, proceeds from the new fees have already been transferred to the country's central bank accounts.

Tehran is also said to be in talks with Oman to establish a formal toll mechanism aimed at institutionalising oversight of maritime traffic through the Strait.

ALSO READ | Oil Shock Loading: IEA Chief Warns Of Crude Market Hitting 'Red Zone' As Early As July

Iranian ambassador to France Mohammad Amin-Nejad defended the proposal, telling Bloomberg that countries using the route “must also pay their share” for navigation and security services.

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump stressed the “urgent need” to restore normal shipping activity through the Strait, warning that prolonged disruptions could severely impact global energy markets and the wider economy.

Essential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.