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Trump threatens Hormuz transit fees if Iran deal fails

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • President Trump threatened to impose transit fees on the Strait of Hormuz if a final agreement between the U.S. and Iran is not reached within 60 days.
  • Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have closed the strait due to Israeli attacks, but the U.S. military denied this, stating it remains open.
  • The U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding to begin 60 days of negotiations on Iran's nuclear program, with Iran ensuring safe passage for merchant ships during this period.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that transit fees will be imposed on the Strait of Hormuz if a final agreement between the United States and Iran is not reached within the 60-day negotiation period. Trump stated on his social media platform, Truth Social, that after the 60-day ceasefire period, no fees will be charged unless a final agreement is not completed. In such a case, the U.S. would collect the fees as compensation for its role as a "guardian angel" in the Middle East.

During the 60-day ceasefire period, the Strait of Hormuz will be free of transit fees.

— Donald TrumpPresident Trump's statement regarding transit fees for the Strait of Hormuz.

This statement follows a memorandum of understanding signed by the U.S. and Iran on April 17, which initiated a 60-day negotiation period aimed at resolving Iran's nuclear program. The memorandum also stipulated that Iran would make its best effort to ensure the safe passage of merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz free of charge during these 60 days. Previously, Trump had criticized Iran's intentions to charge fees for using the strait, emphasizing the importance of keeping it open as an international waterway.

The situation remains tense as Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) earlier claimed to have closed the Strait of Hormuz due to Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon. However, the U.S. military swiftly denied this assertion, confirming that the vital waterway remains open and that U.S. forces are closely monitoring the situation to ensure its continued accessibility. The U.S. had previously blockaded Iranian ports after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz during an earlier conflict, but announced the lifting of this blockade on March 18 following the memorandum signing.

After the 60-day period expires, no transit fees will be charged, unless a final agreement is not reached, in which case the fee will be collected by the United States, as compensation.

— Donald TrumpPresident Trump's conditions for imposing transit fees on the Strait of Hormuz.

Prior to the outbreak of the Middle East war, approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and natural gas was transported through the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. and Israel initiated conflict against Iran in late February, leading to Iran's closure of the strait.

We want it open, we want free passage... It is an international waterway.

— Donald TrumpPresident Trump's previous stance on the importance of the Strait of Hormuz.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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