Oman’s transport minister said on Wednesday no transit fees can be imposed on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz under international maritime agreements, describing the waterway as a natural passage.
Saeed Al-Maawali told Oman’s Shura Council that the sultanate’s position on the strait is clear and aligned with all agreements it has signed, rejecting the imposition of any charges.
He said some countries, including Iran and the United States, have not signed certain maritime agreements, creating what he described as a “legal gap”, adding that Oman’s foreign ministry is engaged in discussions and expressed hope for progress.
Al-Maawali also said Oman’s ports sector is seeing strong growth, with cargo volumes exceeding 143 million tonnes and container throughput reaching 5.1 million TEUs in 2025. He added that expansion projects and investment inflows helped drive a 17.4% rise in sector revenues.
