The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board

The editorial board of the Wall Street Journal wrote on Monday, July 6, noting Tehran's intention to control the Strait of Hormuz, that Iranian government leaders have considered offering special privileges to countries they consider allies, including China, to achieve this goal. According to the Wall Street Journal editorial board, the Islamic Republic has never hidden its objectives regarding the Strait of Hormuz: Iranian sovereignty over the strait and passage of ships only in exchange for payment of fees and obtaining permission from Tehran. The Iranian government has now announced that "friendly" countries such as China may enjoy special privileges in this international waterway. Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, the Islamic Republic's ambassador to China, announced on Saturday, July 4, in Beijing that the Islamic Republic will definitely collect service fees for the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, but China and other "friendly" countries may receive "special considerations" regarding the amount and type of these fees.. Read the full coverage here