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2026-04-09 18:43:16
[France Rejects Hormuz Transit Fee, Insists Freedom of Navigation in International Waterways is Not Tradeable] ⑴ French Foreign Minister Barro stated on Thursday that he rejects any proposal to charge fees for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing that freedom of navigation in international waters is a common property of humanity and cannot be violated by any obstruction or transit fees. ⑵ In a radio interview, Barro further pointed out that such charges would constitute a blatant violation of international law, and Iran must strictly abide by the rules of passage established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. ⑶ Since the US-Israel military action against Iran on February 28, Tehran has virtually brought shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to a standstill. Media and data analysis showed that only a very small number of ships actually transited the strait after the ceasefire agreement took effect earlier this week. ⑷ France's strong stance echoes the earlier call by the CEO of the UAE's ADNOC for the unconditional opening of the strait, highlighting the zero-tolerance attitude of major economies towards the weaponization of a critical energy chokepoint. (5) Analysts believe that if Iran insists on using the right of passage through the Straits as a bargaining chip in geopolitical games, the countermeasures of major European powers in terms of diplomacy and potential escort will gradually emerge, and the dispute over the order of navigation in the Straits is extending from military confrontation to international legal games.
