Singapore: Qatar firmly rejects any permanent legal levy on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz but indicated on Saturday that short-term, purpose-specific charges could be negotiable as part of efforts to restore normal maritime traffic, a senior Qatari official said, Bloomberg reported.
A permanent fee would ultimately be borne by consumers, Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, adding that Doha objects to moves that would saddle the public with such costs. “Qatar and also the partners in the Gulf stated very clearly that charging fees will always impact the consumer, so we are against this,” he said.
Still, Sheikh Saoud suggested a pragmatic opening for limited, temporary charges tied to concrete needs such as mine-clearing operations. “But for certain times that they say they will use it for mine-clearing or some usage of the fees for a temporary time, this is something that is negotiable,” he said.
The remarks came after questions about reported discussions between Iran and Oman on creating a permanent toll regime to formalize control over shipping through Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital trade chokepoints. Tehran has in effect restricted the waterway following US-Israeli airstrikes that began in late February, a campaign that has exacerbated an energy shock across the region.
The prospect of tolls has been roundly rejected by Washington, European capitals and regional states such as the United Arab Emirates, which warn against any precedent that would tax free navigation through international straits.
Iran has retaliated for the US strikes by launching drones and missiles at its regional partners, including targets in Qatar. That has put Doha in a delicate diplomatic position as it tries to balance ties, and Qatar is urging the Gulf Cooperation Council to adopt a unified response.
“We want to set up a clear strategy and a clear approach with Iran in order to have a strategy for all the relationships that we have with Iran, including the trading strategy and also the political strategy,” Sheikh Saoud said.
