According to Iranian media Fars News, the director of the International Affairs Center of the Iranian Environmental Protection Organization stated that a detailed plan for charging environmental service fees to vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz has been submitted to the government. According to the plan, the fee standard will be determined based on factors such as vessel type, the nature of the cargo carried, the vessel's past record, and its potential environmental risk level. The official explained that the legal basis for this plan comes from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and related international treaties. According to international law, vessels of all countries enjoy the "right of innocent passage" within the territorial waters of coastal states. However, if a vessel's behavior violates the principle of "innocent passage," the coastal state or the state along the strait has the right to determine that this principle has been violated. When the safety, public health, or ecological environment of a coastal state is threatened, it can take necessary legal measures in accordance with international law to protect its environment and national interests. He stated that once the principle of "innocent passage" is violated, the coastal state has the right to intervene in the passage of vessels and can charge fees for related services provided, primarily covering the areas of public health and environmental protection.
He emphasized that ensuring the safety and sustainable navigation of the Strait of Hormuz requires corresponding measures and the assumption of related costs. "The security of the Strait of Hormuz has always been, is, and will continue to be the responsibility of the Islamic Republic of Iran." Regarding the toll mechanism, he pointed out that the currently submitted implementation details do not specify payment methods, and the relevant enforcement mechanisms will be formulated separately by the competent authorities. The most important thing at present is to establish the principle of providing the necessary financial guarantees for environmental protection and maintaining the safety and sustainable passage of ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
