Iran offered China, Russia preferential Hormuz terms – i24NEWS
Iran is offering Chinese and Russian vessels full exemptions or preferential terms from proposed transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz to draw Beijing and Moscow deeper into the confrontation over the waterway, i24NEWS reported on Tuesday, citing Western intelligence officials.
Other countries, particularly those aligned with the US, would be required to pay, the report said.
According to the assessment, the incentives were designed to deepen China and Russia’s economic and strategic stake in preserving Iranian control over the strait, the report added.
Intelligence officials also said Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, viewed Hormuz as an Iranian asset rather than an open international shipping lane, a more hardline approach than that of his late father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The report said the policy, if implemented, would further entrench Chinese and Russian interests in Iran’s control of the strait and reduce international pressure on Tehran.