"Unconditional passage"... 60 countries support a declaration opposing tolls on straits
Washington, Brussels – AFP, Reuters – Sixty countries on Monday endorsed a declaration pledging to work to preserve freedom of navigation and oppose the imposition of transit fees in straits used for international navigation.
The declaration added, “We oppose any measures, including the imposition of illegal fees, transit charges, discriminatory restrictions, or requirements for prior authorization or any other conditions that would hinder or undermine legitimate navigation through straits used for international navigation.” The declaration is supported by countries including members of the European Union, Australia, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
On September 24, 2026, a joint statement issued at the United Nations on behalf of a broad group of countries and blocs called for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and guaranteed safe, unimpeded passage for ships without illegal fees.
For its part, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has affirmed that there is no legal basis for imposing mandatory fees solely for transiting straits used for international navigation, according to statements by its Secretary-General in April 2026.
As the crisis between Washington and Tehran continued, the U.S. Air Force began transferring dozens of aerial refueling tankers to its bases in Europe and the Middle East, following their withdrawal during the recent period marked by a ceasefire with Iran. Iran, for its part, announced that it is still reviewing Washington’s response to its proposal regarding the seven-day window.
The Israeli website “Srugim” reported on Monday that the redeployment of refueling tankers comes amid ongoing tensions with Tehran, amid possibilities of renewed military confrontation between the two sides.
Israel’s Channel 13 reported that Israel’s state of alert remains in place, despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s reservations about resuming combat with Iran. It added that assessments within Tel Aviv suggest Washington may wish to resume fighting against Iran sooner or later.
The channel noted that the Israeli military is preparing for potential Iranian retaliation scenarios, including the possibility of an attack on the eve of Israeli elections. Meanwhile, “Maariv” revealed that Washington is pressuring Israel to launch an attack on Iran alone before the U.S. midterm elections.
According to Channel 13, citing a senior security official, Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held “urgent talks” in recent weeks regarding the possibility of resuming the war against Iran.
Nevertheless, Israeli security officials said no final decision has been made yet. One official was quoted as saying that “Netanyahu appeared reluctant to carry out an operation before the elections.”
In Tehran, Iran’s Foreign Ministry stated that it is still reviewing the U.S. response to its proposal regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and will respond to Washington through intermediaries once that review is complete, noting that messages continue to be exchanged via intermediaries.
