U.S. President Donald Trump, in a statement on the Truth Social platform, pledged that there would be no tolls for passage through the Strait of Hormuz. However, Trump added that such fees could be imposed by the United States.
60-day ceasefire period
Trump stated, "During the Ceasefire Period, there will be NO TOLLS in the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days, and there will be NO TOLLS after the 60-day period expires." He continued his statement by adding the condition, "unless imposed by and for the USA."
This statement is being assessed as the latest sign that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on Wednesday may be in jeopardy. According to the agreement, the strait was to be reopened to traffic for a 60-day interim period, during which Iran was prohibited from collecting passage fees.
Claim that Iran closed the strait
On Saturday, Iran's joint military command announced it had closed the Strait of Hormuz due to an "obvious violation" of the memorandum's commitments. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees military operations in the region, denied this report, asserting that traffic continued to flow through the strait.
The Strait of Hormuz has long been a flashpoint in the conflict between the U.S. and Iran. Approximately 20 percent of the world's oil and natural gas and about 30 percent of global fertilizer trade passes through this strait.
Trump's toll idea
Trump is not raising the idea of the strait being subject to tolls by the U.S. for the first time. In April, he also told reporters, "Why shouldn't we charge a toll? I'd rather do that than them charging it. Why shouldn't we? We're the winners. We won."
In his post on Saturday, Trump wrote that such a toll would provide compensation for the services the U.S. provides "as the Guardian Angel of Middle Eastern countries, for the purpose of reimbursing past, present, and future costs."
Future of negotiations
The memorandum was not designed as a long-term agreement and serves as a starting point for negotiations on fundamental issues, including the future of Iran's nuclear program.
Follow-up talks between the U.S. and Iran, facilitated by Pakistan, are planned to begin on Sunday in Switzerland. The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that an Iranian delegation headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had already arrived for the negotiations.
On the U.S. side, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Vice President JD Vance are expected to participate.
