European governments are examining a proposal, developed by Oman with British legal experts, to introduce voluntary navigation service fees in the Strait of Hormuz. The scheme, modelled on the cooperative mechanism used in the Malacca Strait, would allow ship operators to contribute to maritime safety, environmental protection and emergency response without imposing compulsory transit tolls. European support is conditional on the fees remaining non-mandatory and on endorsement by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The initiative emerges as the US administration demands that Iran publicly declare the strait open and halt attacks on commercial vessels, and after a temporary US–Iran ceasefire collapsed.

Viewed from London, British Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has warned that mandatory charges would be “disastrous”, but other UK officials acknowledge that voluntary payment systems for specific navigation services already operate in the English Channel and the Malacca Strait. Omani delegates at the IMO Council in London reiterated that international law guarantees the right of transit passage and does not permit compulsory fees for merely crossing the strait; Muscat, which controls most of the navigable lanes, instead promotes voluntary arrangements. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi travelled to Oman for talks on maritime security, and the Iranian embassy in London has expressed interest in a “transparent service fee” proposal. However, diplomats in the region note divisions within Tehran: some elements of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps argue that the US acted unlawfully earlier this year and that Iran should no longer be bound by international maritime law, while other factions favour cooperation.

The IMO Council adopted a non-binding resolution on 10 July condemning Iran’s claim of sovereignty over the strait and its attempt to create an entity to control ship traffic, and called on member states not to recognise such measures. A separate, stronger resolution that would have condemned Iran over attacks on commercial shipping failed after Russia and China declined to support it, exposing international divisions. Qatar’s foreign ministry has warned that granting Iran sovereignty over the strait in a manner inconsistent with international law would leave global shipping vulnerable to disruption by hardline factions. Iraq’s national security advisor, Qasim al-Araji, described Gulf security as a “shared regional interest and collective responsibility” based on respect for sovereignty and dialogue.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil and gas shipments, and any change to its governance carries significant economic and security implications. The Oman-backed proposal draws on the Malacca Strait model, where littoral states cooperate on safety and environmental protection funded by voluntary contributions. The US administration, for its part, views the collapsed memorandum of understanding with Iran as evidence that Tehran seeks full control over the strait, interpreting a clause on safe passage as a pretext for expanding its authority. Oman has offered to send legal experts to Tehran to explain the voluntary fee framework, and further Iran–Oman consultations are expected. The dossier remains fluid, with European capitals seeking a mechanism that upholds international law while addressing both maritime safety and regional stability.