Iran seeks charges for ships to transit safely through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, said the secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Jasem Mohamed al-Budaiwi is the first top official to accuse Iran of charging for safe passage through the strait, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20 percent of all natural gas and oil once passed, AP reported.

He spoke during a news conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.