Manama, June 25 (SANA) Oman said on Thursday it has no plans to impose transit fees on ships using the Strait of Hormuz, reaffirming its commitment to freedom of navigation and the safe passage of maritime traffic in accordance with international law.
Speaking at the joint ministerial meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the United States in Bahrain, Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said Oman, as a coastal state overlooking the Strait of Hormuz, is committed to supporting international efforts to safeguard navigation through the strategic waterway in line with the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Albusaidi also expressed support for the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran, saying its successful implementation would help promote regional stability, restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and ensure the uninterrupted flow of maritime traffic.
His remarks came hours after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that allowing countries to levy transit fees on ships using international waterways could set a precedent that undermines the principle of freedom of navigation and disrupts global trade.
F.J./ABD
