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United States President Donald Trump on June 20 threatens to impose tolls in the Strait of Hormuz if a final deal with Iran isn’t reached in 60 days.
In a post to Truth Social, Trump underscores that the initial deal to end the war with the Islamic Republic calls for toll-free travel through the vital waterway for 60 days.
“There will be NO TOLLS after the 60 day period has expired, unless they are imposed by and for the United States of America, should the deal not be completed,” he said.
He added that the money would be for “services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East for purposes of both past, present, and future reimbursement of costs.”
Trump’s threats came just a few hours after Iran’s central military command announced on June 20 that it has once again closed the vital Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli escalation in Lebanon.
The U.S. president has faced a lot of blowback domestically for how the memorandum of understanding with Iran addresses the issue of tolls in the Strait of Hormuz — a checkpoint for around 20 percent of global oil and liquified natural gas shipments.
While Iran has committed not to charge vessels passing through the waterway during the 60-day negotiation period dedicated by the deal with the U.S., the text of the deal explicitly states that the Islamic Republic “will conduct dialog with the Sultanate of Oman to define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz in discussion with other Persian Gulf littoral states in line with the applicable international law and the sovereign rights of coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz.”
According to that, if a final agreement is reached after the negotiation period, Iran would be free to impose a toll on the Strait of Hormuz, as long as this is done in coordination with Oman and other Persian Gulf states.
Trump’s latest threat may be meant to address the domestic blowback, but it could also be a sign that the U.S. is planning to challenge the terms of the deal with Iran.
This threat came just as negotiations between Iran and the United States on a final comprehensive agreement are expected to begin shortly in Switzerland.
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it is just a 60 day ceasefire
just a 60 dasy ceasefire