Iran has guaranteed China that the Asian giant will enjoy "special concessions" in payment for transit through the Strait of Hormuz, as a token of gratitude from the Islamic Republic for Beijing's support, particularly during Iran's war.
Tehran, which is holding talks with the United States to reach a peace agreement to end the conflict that began in February, maintains that the strait, one of the most relevant trade routes on the planet, will remain under its control for the duration of the negotiations. In this context, it is designing a comprehensive system of "tolls" that all cargo ships crossing its waters will have to pay.
Iran's ambassador to China, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, reiterated this Saturday at an international forum in Beijing that, given that the strait has become a matter of "national security" for the Iranian government, "new arrangements on (transit in) Hormuz will soon be applied, with the cooperation of Oman, which shares the strait.
At the same time, the diplomat assured that China will enjoy "special considerations when paying for being a "friendly country," a treatment that will also extend to any other state that has expressed its friendship towards Tehran, according to statements released by Bloomberg.
Between Friday and Saturday, at least eight ships attempting to leave the Persian Gulf along the coast of Oman were forced to turn back, the latest sign that the reopening of the strait continues to be extremely complicated.
The United States and the Arab countries of the Gulf maintain that Iran and Oman lack the authority to set fees for the use of this maritime route. However, some European capitals already assume that ships crossing this strategic enclave will end up paying some type of fee, according to sources familiar with the discussions told Bloomberg on Thursday.