Oman has submitted a proposal to Western countries that shipping companies pay voluntary service fees to transit the Strait of Hormuz days after reportedly warning European countries that the prewar status quo could not reemerge, while Iranian officials have called the fees mandatory, The New York Times reported June 30. Although U.S. and Iranian negotiating teams are headed to Doha, Qatar, Iranian and Qatari officials denied the existence of direct U.S.-Iran negotiations on June 30. The Iranian negotiators are expected to focus on the release of $6 billion in frozen funds.