US President Donald Trump has stated that Washington will not allow Iran to impose transit fees on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway critical to global energy supplies.
Speaking at Joint Base Andrews before Vice President JD Vance's departure, Trump declared that Washington would not tolerate any attempt to levy charges in what he described as "international waters."
Trump's comments followed reports that Tehran was considering a parliamentary plan requiring ships to pay tolls in Iran's national currency, the rial. "No, we're not going to allow that. It's international water. If they're doing that, we're not going to let that happen," Trump told reporters. His remarks underline Washington's determination to safeguard freedom of navigation in one of the world's most strategically sensitive maritime corridors.
The Strait of Hormuz, situated between Oman and Iran, handles a significant portion of global oil shipments. Any disruption or regulatory change in the passage has immediate implications for international trade and energy markets. Trump, in a series of posts on his social media platform Truth Social, accused Iran of attempting to exploit the waterway for leverage.
He wrote that Tehran had "no cards" other than "short-term extortion of the World by using International Waterways," adding that the only reason Iran remained relevant was "to negotiate."
In another post, Trump criticised Iran's communication strategy, claiming that Tehran was "better at handling the Fake News Media and Public Relations than they are at fighting." His rhetoric reflects heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, which have long clashed over maritime security and regional influence.
Iranian officials, however, have defended the proposal. Ibrahim Azizi, head of Iran's Parliament National Security Commission, explained that under the Strategic Action Plan for Security and Sustainable Development of the Strait of Hormuz, transit fees could be introduced, payable in rials. He noted that the plan also allowed for a potential agreement with Oman, though he emphasised this was a secondary provision rather than the core of the proposal. The Consulate General of Iran in Mumbai echoed Azizi's statement on social media, highlighting the parliamentary initiative.
The debate over transit charges comes amid broader efforts to ease tensions in West Asia. A meeting between US and Iranian representatives is expected soon, following a temporary two-week ceasefire agreement aimed at ending more than a month of conflict in the region. Analysts suggest that while Iran's proposal may be intended to assert sovereignty and economic control, Washington views it as a direct challenge to international norms governing free passage through global waterways.
For India, which relies heavily on energy imports routed through the Strait of Hormuz, developments in the region are closely watched. Any escalation could affect oil prices and supply chains, underscoring the global significance of the dispute. At present, Washington's stance remains clear: it will not permit Iran to impose unilateral tolls on one of the world's most vital shipping lanes.