Kuwaiti tanker hit off Dubai; Iran plan for Strait of Hormuz tolls approved

Reports: Iran plans ’toll systems’ for Strait of Hormuz

Semi-official Iranian news agency Fars reported on its Telegram channel that Mujtaba Zarei, a representative to Iran’s parliament for the capital Tehran, had announced that the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission in Iran has approved a plan to impose tolls on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

The Telegram post said the plans for the "rial toll systems" would require co-operation from Oman for "the structure of the legal regime" and would prohibit "Americans and the Zionist regime from passing and navigating", along with the prohibition of countries "participating in unilateral sanctions against Iran".

Iran has, in the view of many analysts, consolidated its control of the Strait, potentially including the use of naval mines.

UN sets up task force for safe passage through Hormuz

The UN has commissioned a joint task force that it says will work "to ensure safe, orderly and reliable transit for humanitarian purposes through the critical maritime corridor" of the Strait of Hormuz.

The task force will be headed by Jorge Moreira da Silva, executive director of the United Nations Office for Project Services, which provides infrastructure, procurement and project management services around the world. 

Representatives from UN trade body UNCTAD, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and the International Chamber of Commerce will also take part in the initiative.

“Our focus is to facilitate the trade of commercial fertilisers and the movement of related raw materials. We are standing by to support this lifesaving operation,” Mr Moreira da Silva said in a statement posted on X. “It is urgent to prevent a massive humanitarian crisis in the Middle East and beyond, including in Africa and Asia, import-dependent on fertilisers.”

UN expert discusses complexity of mine clearing

UN Mine Action Service’s Paul Heslop, whose organisation focuses on clearing land-based mines, said in a UN publication that in the event that mines are present and if an agreement is reached to allow transit through the Strait, that vessels would need to transit in convoys accompanied by minesweeping vessels. 

"If there is a peace deal or an agreement in the Strait of Hormuz and mines have been deployed, then for the foreseeable future, there will probably be a requirement, because of the dynamic nature of sea mines, to form a convoy and sweep for mines in front of that convoy. A convoy would probably operate in a channel a couple of kilometres wide which has been cleared of mines. It would not be the case that every square metre of the Strait of Hormuz would be cleared every day. And obviously, depending on currents, tidal shifts, some areas are more likely to become recontaminated than others," Mr Heslop said.

Trump lashes out at UK and France

US President Trump, who has extended a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to 6 April, took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to express his ire at European countries who, in Mr Trump’s view, have not supported US military operations in Iran. 

"All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the US, we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT. You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the USA won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us," the US president’s account posted seven minutes prior to a post saying "The Country of France wouldn’t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory. France has been VERY UNHELPFUL."

ICS and ITF work with Gulf States to improve safety of stranded seafarers

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) said they have met representatives from Gulf States to "address the ongoing conflict and its direct impact on seafarers and shipping in the Gulf," with an estimated 20,000 seafarers still stranded in the Persian Gulf due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. 

The groups said discussions with IMO representatives to Gulf State countries focused on "urgent practical, joint initiatives aimed at supporting ships and crews". 

ICS and ITF asked for a reporting mechanism to Gulf State partners, through IMO, that would allow vessels to highlight their most immediate concerns for resupply. The groups called for recognition of seafarers as key workers in accordance with national laws and prioritisation of crew replacement on board ships adhering to international standards and to ensure that vessels remain sufficiently manned and operational. The groups asked Gulf States to "quickly and safely disembark seafarers from vessels for medical reasons".

"No seafarer should be expected to remain in a conflict zone against their will. Those who want to go home must be able to do so safely and without delay, with arrangements in place to ensure safe crew changes and the continued operation of vessels," ITF general secretary Stephen Cotton said.

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