There is “no room for maneuver” to “interpret the rules of international law” in order to restrict navigation in the straits, the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, told AFP on Thursday, after Donald Trump’s comments on possible trade agreements linked to maritime passages.
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The American president mentioned on Monday a 20% tax on ships transiting through this strategic route, before renouncing it the next day in favor of possible trade agreements with the Gulf States.
Even if the terms of these agreements remain unknown and do not fall under the jurisdiction of the IMO, “there is no room for maneuver for countries to start interpreting the rules of international law in order to introduce restrictions,” insisted Mr. Dominguez.
The Panamanian official emphasizes that there is “no legal basis” for imposing fees or tolls in these maritime passages.
The Strait of Hormuz, between Iran and Oman, constitutes one of the main arteries of global energy trade.
Meeting last week in London, the IMO estimated that States must reject Iran’s attempts to exercise sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, as well as Tehran’s “unilateral” decision to create an authority responsible for supervising maritime traffic there.
Some 18 sailors have lost their lives since the start of the conflict, including two since July 14, and 6,000 sailors are still stranded in the Gulf, according to the latest data from the organization, which had to stop their evacuation at the end of June due to attacks.
