Iran grants Hormuz transit fee exemption to ‘friendly’ countries: Report
US President Donald Trump dismissed the threat posed by Iran's "little wise-guy ships" and told reporters that he believed Tehran wanted to make a deal but that its leadership was in turmoil.
Iran has exempted several "friendly" countries, including Russia, from paying transit fees for passing through the Strait of Hormuz, Al Jazeera reported today (24 April), citing Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.
Iran's Ambassador in Moscow, Kazem Jalali, said exceptions have already been granted, though future decisions remain uncertain.
"We have provided exemptions for some countries. I don't know what will happen in the future," he told the Russian news outlet.
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Jalali added that Iran's foreign ministry is currently working to apply these exemptions for friendly nations such as Russia.
However, it remains unclear which other countries are included in the exemptions beyond Russia. Tehran has been considering imposing tariffs on vessels using the strategic waterway amid the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran.
Iran flaunted its tightened grip over the Strait of Hormuz yesterday with a video of commandos in a speedboat storming a huge cargo ship after the collapse of peace talks that Washington had hoped would open one of the world's most important shipping corridors, reports Reuters.
US President Donald Trump dismissed the threat posed by Iran's "little wise-guy ships" and told reporters that he believed Tehran wanted to make a deal but that its leadership was in turmoil.
Trump added that he was in no hurry for a deal, but if Iran did not want one, "I'll finish it up militarily."
Iranian state television broadcast video overnight of masked troops pulling up in a grey speedboat alongside the MSC Francesca, climbing a rope ladder to a door in the hull and jumping through, brandishing rifles.
The video, presented with an action-movie-style soundtrack and no commentary, included views of another ship, the Epaminondas.
Iran said it captured both on Wednesday (22 April), accusing them of trying to cross the strait without permits.
Tehran says it will not consider opening the strait until the US lifts its blockade of Iran's shipping, which Washington imposed during the ceasefire and Tehran calls a violation of that truce.
Iran has also called Israeli strikes on Lebanon, where Israel has been engaged with the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah, an obstacle to renewed peace talks.
