German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has urged against introducing tolls in the Strait of Hormuz after negotiations to end the US-Israeli war with Iran, following a threat from US President Donald Trump to charge ships for passing the strategically vital waterway.
In remarks at a public forum at the Foreign Office in Berlin on Sunday, Wadephul said the Strait of Hormuz needed to stay freely navigable under international maritime law.
Wadephul said the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran contained ambiguous wording on whether free passage is "truly 100% guaranteed."
The German government, he said, will attach great importance to the free passage of the Strait of Hormuz and factor this into any decision on whether, when and how sanctions against Iran might be lifted.
"If that happens, I believe the oil price can normalize relatively quickly," he added.
Trump had threatened to impose a US toll on the Strait of Hormuz if no final peace agreement was reached, suggesting the US could be compensated for its role as the region's "guardian angel."
Under the framework agreement, Iran is barred from levying any charges during a 60-day negotiating period. What happens after that is to be negotiated between Iran and Oman in accordance with international law and with the involvement of the neighbouring states.
On the domestic impact of Iran's Hormuz blockade, Wadephul also called for a quicker pace on the use of renewable energy sources, citing the war's impact on energy prices.
In light of the current situation, Germany and Europe must recognize that they need to become less dependent on fossil fuels, he said.
