The United Nations maritime agency said on Monday it opposed charging fees to ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz but would wait for more details after US President Donald Trump announced the reimposition of a naval blockade of Iran and the imposition of a 20 percent fee on all cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said in a post on the social network Truth Social that the process would begin immediately, but did not provide further details, Reuters reports.
"We are aware of the announcement and are awaiting more information," a spokesman for the United Nations' International Maritime Organization said.
"Our position on fees has always been consistent – the IMO is firmly opposed to charging for passage through straits used for international navigation. There is no legal basis for introducing mandatory tolls just for passage through a strait."
Representatives of the maritime industry expressed concern about the latest developments, adding that such a move, in their assessment, would constitute a violation of international law.
"How will this make navigation safer and what guarantees will it provide?" said one industry representative, who did not want to be named, commenting on Trump's announcement.
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