A prominent shipping magnate has expressed his willingness to pay fees to Iran for passage through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a move he believes would prevent disruptive closures. Evangelos Marinakis, a major Greek shipowner, made these remarks during the “TradeWinds” conference in Athens, as reported by the Financial Times.
“EVEN IF WE HAD TO PAY A FEE, FOR ME [IT WOULD] BE MUCH BETTER THAN TO HAVE THE STRAITS CLOSED,” MARINAKIS SAID.
Marinakis, who controls Capitol Maritime Group with a fleet exceeding 220 vessels, mentioned that paying a fee ranging from $100,000 to $200,000 would be preferable to dealing with the complications of a closed strait. Iran had previously suggested fees that could reach $2 million per ship, a proposal met with resistance by companies such as Chevron and Mitsui OSK Lines, according to the Financial Times.
Another Greek shipowner, George Prokopiou, voiced opposition to such tolls, arguing that additional burdens should not be imposed due to the numerous chokepoints worldwide.
“WE’VE ALWAYS SAID A TOLLING SYSTEM IN THE STRAIT WOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE. BUT WE DON’T SAY THAT, THE WORLD SAYS THAT,” U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO STATED.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, emphasizing international consensus, declared on May 18 that a toll system would make negotiations unfeasible. He further noted that if a satisfactory deal couldn’t be reached, President Trump had other options at his disposal.
Meanwhile, gas prices have surged to over $4 per gallon on average since the onset of the Iran War, with expectations that they may remain high even months after the conflict. The situation highlights the critical nature of the Strait of Hormuz as a global chokepoint for energy supplies.
