Iran lawmaker says China, India, Japan paying Hormuz transit fees despite US sanctions

China, India and Japan and other countries are paying Iran transit fees to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and continue purchasing its oil despite US sanctions, an Iranian lawmaker said Thursday. Jafar Qadiri, deputy head of the Iranian parliament's Economic Commission, said the trend shows that international demand for Iranian energy persists despite mounting pressure, the parliament-affiliated ICANA news agency reported.

US warnings

He said Washington has warned that any country paying Iran for transit through the Strait of Hormuz could face severe sanctions. "However, we see that various countries are paying these fees and continue to buy Iran's oil and petroleum products without regard to White House restrictions," he said. Qadiri added that Iranian oil exports are continuing to reach global markets despite sanctions and a naval blockade.

Talks deadlock

The status of the Strait of Hormuz has been one of the main points of disagreement between Tehran and Washington during recent talks in Islamabad. A ceasefire was announced on April 8 through Pakistani mediation, followed by talks on April 11-12, but no agreement was reached. Although the truce was initially set to expire later in April, it was subsequently extended by President Trump as diplomatic efforts continue.

Transit fees policy

During and after the war, Iran has said that all vessels passing through the strategic waterway should pay transit fees, with lawmakers working on plans to formalize the policy through parliament. Since April 13, the United States has enforced a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.