Forty countries agreed on Thursday to explore the possibility of imposing sanctions on Iran if it keeps the Strait of Hormuz closed and rejected any attempts to impose tolls on ships passing through this strategic route, according to a statement issued after a virtual meeting convened by the United Kingdom. The participating governments, chaired by British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, emphasized their determination to “ensure freedom of navigation and reopen” that maritime route, which Tehran has kept virtually closed since the United States and Israel began the war against Iran on February 28, to which it responded with attacks on ships navigating the Persian Gulf. Last Tuesday, the National Security Commission of the Iranian Parliament approved a bill establishing tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, without specifying the amount, and prohibits the transit of U.S. and Israeli ships. The Tasnim agency, linked to the Revolutionary Guard, indicated that the fee could amount to two million dollars (1.7 million euros) per ship or a system based on the cargo, similar to the Suez Canal. The statement released in London notes that the passage is “one of the most critical maritime corridors in the world,” used to transport vital supplies such as fertilizers for Africa and hydrocarbons that supply homes, air transport, and international trade. The allied countries debated increasing diplomatic pressure and “exploring coordinated economic and political measures, such as sanctions, if the strait remains closed.” The statement also highlights that they will cooperate with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to “ensure the release of thousands of ships and sailors trapped in the strait.” The IMO Secretary-General, the Panamanian Arsenio Domínguez, who also attended the meeting, called for avoiding “fragmented responses” and seeking “practical and neutral” solutions to free the approximately 2,000 ships with about 20,000 sailors aboard stranded in the Gulf since the start of the conflict.
