Trump Warns Iran to Stop Charging Fees for Ships in the Strait of Hormuz, Adding Uncertainty to the Ceasefire Agreement

Gate News update: On April 9, U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran on April 10 not to charge tolls to ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, saying such actions “violate the agreement,” and demanding that Iran “immediately stop.”

Although the United States and Iran have already reached a two-week ceasefire agreement, the volume of vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains far below normal levels, with large numbers of ships stuck in the Persian Gulf, and the pace of restoring energy transport lagging behind expectations.

Trump’s remarks show that the U.S. opposes Iran’s use of its control over the strait to obtain economic benefits. Previously, the U.S. had proposed the idea of having the United States collect tolls for passage through the strait. Meanwhile, Iran has sent signals that it will push strait management into a “new phase,” and it has been reported that it is already brewing a toll-charging mechanism.

The Strait of Hormuz is a key corridor for transporting about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG). The dispute over control of the strait is becoming one of the core variables affecting the stability of the ceasefire. Differences over passage rights, fee arrangements, and security mechanisms may become focal topics in the direct U.S.-Iran talks expected to be held in Pakistan. If the related disputes continue to escalate, the ceasefire agreement faces further risk of breaking down.