The Strait of Hormuz will be open but under new conditions to be set by Iran and Oman, including a transit fee, Iran’s ambassador to Moscow was quoted as saying on Monday.

The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has largely cut oil flows via the strait, which before the conflict saw one-fifth of the world’s oil pass through. Several tankers have managed to leave the Gulf recently, but oil and liquefied natural gas flows remain severely constrained.

“Of course, this strait will be open, but with new conditions to be determined by the Iranian and Omani authorities,” Ambassador Kazem Jalali told the Russian newspaper Izvestia. “We understand that Iran and Oman provide certain services related to this strait. And fees will be charged for those services,” he said, without elaborating.

Tehran’s Conditions

Iran has asserted that a permanent peace deal should allow it to demand fees for ships passing through the strait, which would vary depending on the type of ship, its cargo and prevailing conditions.

The position reflects Tehran’s desire to translate its geographic leverage over one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints into a tangible economic and political concession as part of any future settlement.

Washington Pushes Back

That position is vehemently opposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

In late May, the U.S. warned Oman not to get involved in any effort with Iran to impose a toll, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Oman’s ambassador had told him there were no plans to impose such fees.

Japan, which imported about 95% of its oil needs from the Middle East before the war, said it did not pay a fee after a Japan-linked crude oil tanker passed through the waterway in May.

Strikes Continue

On Monday, Israel said it struck military targets in western and central Iran, even after Trump reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from further attacks – a sign that the conflict continues to simmer despite diplomatic efforts to contain it.

(with input from Reuters)