Greece has one of the world’s largest merchant fleets in terms of cargo transport capacity. After the USA and Israel began the war against Iran on February 28th, Tehran brought shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to a virtual standstill with attacks and threats. With a view to the upcoming negotiations with the USA as part of the agreed ceasefire, Tehran has proposed charging ships for safe passage through the strait.
Mitsotakis warns of “dangerous precedent”
US President Donald Trump had referred to considerations that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could be secured jointly by the USA and Iran. How he imagined this would initially remain unclear.
Mitsotakis told CNN that a separate international agreement regarding the strait may be necessary. However, this should not include a fee for ship passages. “By doing so, we would be setting an extremely dangerous precedent for freedom of navigation,” warned Mitsotakis.
The German government also previously demanded toll-free passage through the strait. It is not only Iranian maritime territory, but the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea applies, said a spokesman for the Foreign Office. “And that is why it is necessary that free, safe and toll-free shipping traffic is ensured when it resumes,” he said. (sda/dpa)
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.