USA discusses VIP transit plan for Strait of Hormuz
According to the news of Politico, US officials are discussing the formula for paid VIP crossing with military escorts to restart ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. While hundreds of ships continue to wait in the region, this step is intended to encourage European allies to take responsibility for maritime security.
Officials from the administration of US President Donald Trump have started to discuss the paid "VIP pass" option, which offers military escorts and accelerated passage, in order to restart the tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the news that Politico based sources close to the talks, although the parties announced that a peace agreement would be reached soon, the transition crisis in the Strait of Hormuz has not yet been overcome.
A source with knowledge about the talks said about the negotiations, "In exchange for a fee to be paid to the USA, the accelerated transition formula accompanied by an escort is focused. This will be a kind of VIP pass for ships. The basic idea is to charge for these quick procedures, which can be carried out accompanied by a military escort," he said.
The ideas of charging tankers is also used as a negotiating tactic before the G7 summit to be held in France and aims to ensure more active participation of European allies in developments in the region, the sources said.
A former government official explained the purpose of this idea of remuneration with these words:
“This idea aims to pave the way for France, England and other countries to enter the Persian Gulf and assume maritime security responsibility. Thus, it is aimed to create an additional deterrence element that will prevent Iranians from withdrawing from the agreement and using the Strait of Hormuz as a long-term blackmail tool.”
Other alternatives discussed in the White House include the introduction of the Defense Manufacturing Act to force US insurance companies to provide security to ships using this sea route.
The Trump administration offered shipowners $20 billion in “political insurance” in March. However, Politico said that shipowners who did not want to risk their properties in the waters where Iran damaged millions of dollars worth of cargo with missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and small boats, did not show interest in this offer.
Sources noted that none of the discussed ideas have been approved yet. Stating that despite the agreement between the USA and Iran, the traffic in the strait has almost completely come to a standstill, Politico said that according to Kpler data, approximately 500 ships, 220 of which are tankers, are currently waiting in the Persian Gulf, just outside the Strait of Hormuz.
The US and Iran announced that a peace agreement was reached on June 14 after the negotiations carried out under the mediation of Pakistan.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced that the signing ceremony of the agreement is expected to be held in Switzerland on June 19.
The drafts of the memorandum of understanding broadcast by Israeli television Kanal 12 and Al Arabiya on June 16 contain articles related to the Strait of Hormuz.
The draft published by Channel 12 states that "Iran will make the necessary arrangements to ensure the safe passage of commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz and will not charge any fees for 60 days."
In the version of Al Arabiya, it is said that "Iran will ensure the safe passage of commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, including demining works, within 30 days."
In addition, according to the draft quoted by Channel 12, Iran and Oman are committing to conducting negotiations to determine the "regulations on maritime transport and port services" with the participation of the Gulf countries.
After the announcement of the peace agreement, US President Donald Trump announced that the tankers began to leave the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on his social media account on June 15, Trump said, "They are moving on the southern 'highway', which is completely safe, secure and trouble-free. There are other transit routes!!!” He used his expressions.
On the other hand, the sources who spoke to Reuters stated that even if a transition agreement is signed, the mine clearance works in the Strait of Hormuz could delay the return to normal sea traffic for a few weeks.
In the news they published at the end of May, NBC and ABC channels reported that the US army has not been able to locate the Iranian mines in the Strait of Hormuz since the beginning of the war with Iran.