Iran is sharpening its case for imposing charges on Strait of Hormuz shipping, arguing commercial vessels should help pay for environmental damage in the Gulf, as Tehran and Washington vie for control of the strategic waterway.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmael Baghaei said on Aug. 13 that environmental protection should form a key part of any future arrangement governing the strait, pointing to a recent oil spill along the shores of Iran’s Qeshm Island.
Baghaei said preliminary evidence suggested that pollution documented at three coastal sites and on parts of the surrounding sea surface originated from a foreign bulk carrier.
“Who bears responsibility for compensating these damages?” Baghaei said, asking whether responsibility should fall on energy-consuming countries, shipping insurers, or countries involved in military operations in the region….
Iran Cites Environmental Damage in Push for Hormuz Shipping Fees
