Iran working on Hormuz ‘protocol’ to cover ‘costs’, says Deputy Foreign Minister Gharibabadi

Iran has provided “free services” to international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz for decades, but is currently working on a “protocol” that includes a financial component covering the costs incurred to make navigation safe in the Persian Gulf region, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said in New Delhi on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.

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Speaking to a select group of journalists at the Iranian Embassy here for the BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting, Mr. Garibabadi avoided naming the UAE directly and said “a neighboring country that is also a BRICS member” had blocked a joint statement at the meeting by trying to introduce language aimed at condemning Iran’s military strategy against US and Israeli attacks.

Mr. Gharibabadi said, “Until now, Iran has provided free services in the Strait of Hormuz. In fact, these services were provided by both Oman and Iran. We are currently working on a protocol and regulation covering navigation, pollution of the Strait and rescue (in case of accident). The protocol has not been finalized yet and we are working at the expert level.”

He said that while the regulation would be “non-discriminatory,” Iran would not cooperate with countries found to support the United States and Israel. He accused the two countries of starting the war on February 28 during negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.

Mr Garibabadi assured that the Strait of Hormuz would remain open to India-bound ships, but said maritime traffic would be affected if the US continued its attacks on Iran. He said Iran is not a member of the 1982 UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea) and can continue to implement its “protocol” in the strait. Mr Gharibabadi’s remarks came just days after US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s overtures, calling them “completely unacceptable”.

Mr. Gharibabadi said that because of Iran’s reluctance to recognize its sovereign rights to enrich uranium, which is available to all members of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, “Iran agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without preconditions, but the United States refused.” He stated that “there is a high probability of a resumption of US attacks” due to the obstruction of negotiations on Iran’s nuclear enrichment. He said that if attacked, “Iran will defend it using all its means.”

He called upon “friendly countries”, including India, to prevent resumption of hostilities in West Asia saying, “Iran is not Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, or Palestine. A renewed war will have a global consequence.”

Mr. Gharibabadi reached Delhi ahead of Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi to attend the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the BRICS group, which faced difficulties as a joint statement could not be made at the special envoys meeting early on April 23 due to language differences on Israel’s actions in West Asia and terrorism. He stated that a similar challenge continues as Foreign Ministers and dignitaries of member countries reach India to attend the meeting on May 14-15.

Mr. Gharibabadi said, “We are in favor of making a joint declaration because it is not good to signal that BRICS is divided.”

He said Pakistan was not involved in any substantive discussions as a mediator and urged all friendly countries to take initiatives. Expressing Iran’s desire to continue dialogue to prevent the resumption of hostilities in the Gulf, he said, “India can also bring an initiative.”