JAKARTA - The United Nations (UN) has reiterated its call to guarantee freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz amid President Donald Trump's decision to impose a 20 percent fee on ships crossing the sea lanes.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres accepted the premise that any member state could impose tariffs on cargo crossing the strait.
At a press conference, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Secretary-General Guterres' position was consistent.
"He wants to see freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," Dujarric said, quoted by ANTARA from Anadolu, Tuesday, July 14.
The statement comes amid the latest exchange between the US and Iran over the weekend.
US President Donald Trump also said the US was "updating" its blockade of Iran and would charge ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz for security guarantees.
Dujarric also confirmed that the official who heads the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jean Arnault, had met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on his first visit to Iran.
During the meeting, according to Dujarric, Arnault explained the UN's efforts in the implementation of Resolution 1701 as well as his views on the challenges to be faced.
Arnault also took Iran's view of the situation and the support that countries in the region could provide to realize Lebanon's aspirations for peace, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
As previously reported, US President Donald Trump said he would reimpose a blockade on Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz and would charge other ships that pass through.
"The Strait of Hormuz is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran. We will reimpose the IRAN BLOCKADE—so called because this blockade only stops Iranian vessels or customers from entering or leaving. All other countries will be able to use the Strait fairly and openly," he said in a post on Truth Social, as reported by CNN, Monday, July 13.
Trump reiterated that the US would act as the "guardian" of the Strait of Hormuz and would charge commercial shipping companies 20% of the value of their cargo as compensation for the US for securing the strait.
"From now on, the US will be known as 'GUARD OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT', but as a consequence - and for the sake of JUSTICE - the US will receive a cost reimbursement of 20% of the value of all transported cargo, to cover all costs required in carrying out the task of ensuring safety and security in this highly conflict-prone region of the world," he said.
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