The United States and Iran appear to be nearing an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz 30 days after a peace deal is reached, according to a report. Once reopened, free passage would be allowed at pre-war levels. However, Iran is demanding fees under the name of "service charges" instead of transit tolls, making a full return to toll-free passage unlikely.
Japan's Nikkei reported this on the 26th, citing a Middle East diplomatic source. During the first 30 days after the agreement, Iran would remove mines from the Strait of Hormuz to restore safe navigation conditions for vessels. After mine removal, ships from various countries would be allowed to navigate freely as they did before the de facto blockade, and Iran would not collect fees under the name of transit tolls.
However, the agreement does not mean the Strait of Hormuz will be fully reopened free of charge as before the war. Iran has indicated it will not collect "transit tolls" but will charge "service fees." Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said at a regular press briefing on the 25th, "Iran collects fees from vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz under the name of navigation services, not transit tolls." He added, "Along with measures to protect the environment of the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf, and the Sea of Oman, providing services such as navigation assistance requires the collection of certain fees." He emphasized that Iran "is not seeking to collect transit tolls."
The peace agreement has not yet been finalized either, as approval from Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has yet to be confirmed. Spokesperson Baghaei said on the 25th, "Most issues have been concluded, but the signing of the agreement is not imminent." U.S. President Donald Trump also said on Truth Social on the 24th that he had instructed his negotiating team not to rush the talks.
