Brussels, Belgium: The EU said Thursday that freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must be ensured with “no payment or toll whatsoever”, after Iran suggested it could charge for letting ships through.
A full reopening of the vital Gulf waterway remains a key point of contention as talks are due to start after Iran and the United States announced a two-week ceasefire following over a month of hostilities.
“International law provides for the freedom of navigation, which means... basically no payment or toll whatsoever,” European Commission spokesman Anouar El Anouni told a press conference in Brussels.
“Freedom of navigation is a public good and needs to be ensured,” he said.
Iran agreed to reopen the thoroughfare during the two-week truce but has also spoken of setting up a toll system, which would allow it to fund its reconstruction.
US President Donald Trump has suggested that the United States and Iran could run the system in a "joint venture", though the White House has said the strait should be reopened immediately with no restrictions.
Traffic through Hormuz has remained extremely limited despite the ceasefire.
