Oceans minister opposes Iran's push to charge fees for Hormuz transit

Korean Oceans Minister Hwang Jong-woo has openly opposed Iran's reported push to charge fees on vessels passing through the crucial Strait of Hormuz, calling such action a "violation of international law." Hwang made the remarks at a press conference held at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries headquarters in the southeastern city of Busan on Thursday, stressing that the Middle Eastern strait is one of the global shipping routes guaranteed free passage by the International Maritime Organization. "Charging shipping tolls (in the strait) is practically equivalent to blocking the waterway," he said. "Unlike the Suez Canal, which was man-made, these are international waters, where the free movement of ships is guaranteed under international agreements, and imposing tolls in such waters is inappropriate," he added, calling for freedom of navigation. Tehran was reportedly pushing to collect tolls on ships passing through the critical trade waterway, which has been effectively choked off amid the ongoing war involving the United States and Israel. As it remains unclear when the Hormuz strait wi

Original source: Korea Times