Trump
The US Instead Of Iran Should Collect the Strait of Hormuz Tolls
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US President Donald Trump has said Iran should not be allowed to collect tolls from vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting that the United States could impose such charges if necessary.
Trump made the remarks in a post on Truth Social on Saturday.
“The Strait of Hormuz will have no tolls during the 60-day ceasefire period, and there will be no tolls after the 60-day period expires, unless they are imposed by the United States and in the interest of the United States,” Trump wrote.
The comments come after Iran restricted shipping through the strategic waterway in late February as part of a pressure campaign following the outbreak of conflict with the United States and Israel. A ceasefire memorandum signed Wednesday reopened the strait for 60 days, with a prohibition on Iran collecting tolls during that window.
Iran's Joint Military Command has claimed the strait has been closed again due to violations of the agreement, citing recent Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon as the catalyst.
The memorandum does not explicitly prohibit toll collection after the 60-day period. Prior to the conflict, no fees were charged for passage through the strait.
Trump had previously expressed support for keeping the strait permanently toll-free in an interview with The New York Times. His recent statements suggest a shift in position.
“If an agreement is not reached, tolls may be imposed by the United States and in the interest of the United States,” he said. Trump argued such measures could help recover costs for what he described as America's role as the 'savior' of Middle Eastern nations—past, present, and future.
In his earlier New York Times interview, Trump floated the idea of receiving 20 percent of the region's revenues in exchange for US 'guardianship.' He made similar remarks to reporters in April, asking, “We are the victors. We won. So why shouldn't we collect the tolls?”
Iranian officials have repeatedly signaled they are not dismissing the possibility of imposing tolls in the strait, characterizing it as a matter of sovereignty and regional negotiation given the waterway's location between Iran and Oman.
Iranian authorities maintain that proper implementation of the ceasefire memorandum must be ensured before new negotiations can begin, and only then would the 60-day countdown commence.
Pakistan, serving as mediator between the United States and Iran, has announced that the next round of talks will begin Sunday in Switzerland.
An Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has already arrived. The US side is expected to include Jared Kushner, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Vice President J.D. Vance.
The strait is a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies, with approximately 20 percent of the world's oil and natural gas, as well as roughly 30 percent of fertilizer trade, transiting through its waters. Any prolonged closure would likely trigger spikes in global fuel prices and create significant pressure on agricultural sectors worldwide.
Source: Al-Jazeera (Adapted)
