Araqchi mocks Trump: Iran is the guardian of Hormuz forever

 Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi ridiculed US President Donald Trump's announcement to impose a 20% transit fee on all shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz,  saying that "whoever secures the Strait of Hormuz deserves to be rewarded."

This came in a post on the "X" platform, on the evening of Monday,  July 13, in which he addressed Trump's statements regarding the Strait of Hormuz, and Araqchi said: "The US president is absolutely right, whoever ensures the safe passage of commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, should be charged for this service."

"Iran is the guardian of the Strait of Hormuz, and it will remain so forever," he said, before mocking Trump's remarks, saying, "20 percent, of course, is a very high percentage. We will be fair."

International Legal Framework for Sea Straits

Iran has announced more than once its intention to impose fees on the transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, which was rejected by the United States and many countries of the world, under the pretext that laws and agreements prohibit the charging of transit fees in international waters, before Trump  announced yesterday the  re-imposition of the US naval blockade on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, and the imposition of a 20% transit fee on all shipments that cross the strait.

Navigation in natural straits is not governed by unilateral decisions, but is regulated by the rules of international maritime law, foremost of which is the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The Convention grants ships and aircraft of all States the right of "transit" through the international straits connecting two parts of the high seas, provided that the passage is done without delay or interruption except in extreme emergencies.

The Convention obliges coastal states to allow the passage of ships without interference, and only gives them the right to impose limited service fees, such as marine pilotage or towing services when necessary.

Why are Egypt and Panama entitled to fees?

The situation is radically different in water canals such as the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal, as these passages are not natural but man-made, built and operated by sovereign states that bear huge maintenance and operating costs.

 The Suez Canal, for example, generates nearly $4 billion in annual revenues for Egypt, and the 1888 Treaty of Constantinople authorizes fees to finance maintenance and development.

The same is true of the Panama Canal, which was constructed by the United States on behalf of Panama and is now administered under special treaties that give the Panama Canal Authority the right to charge transit fees to fund ongoing maintenance work, including dredging and landslide response.

Thus, the levy of tolls in these canals is legitimate because they are state-owned engineering installations, not natural straits subject to the right of passage.

Limited Exceptions Around the World

There are exceptional cases that allow tolls to be imposed on certain sea lanes, but they are based on special agreements or unique geographical conditions, Russia, for example, charges fees on the North Sea Route in exchange for icebreaker and maritime guidance services.

Turkey's Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits are governed by the 1936 Montreux Agreement, which prohibits transit fees and only allows limited service charges for the use of navigational aids and lighthouses, and in Canada, the government is considering a toll on the Northwest Corridor, but faces strong U.S. opposition.

Reports confirm that these cases are not similar to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, as they are either corridors subject to special agreements or areas that require complex navigational services.