Trump’s Warning to Iran Over Tanker Tolls

On Thursday, former President Donald Trump addressed Iran’s purported plans to charge for tanker passage through the Strait of Hormuz. He took to Truth Social to express his concern, stating, “There are reports that Iran is charging tolls for tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. It’s better not to charge them, and if they do, they should stop now!”

This statement followed reports that Iranian authorities and groups affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) were demanding tolls of around $2 million for large tankers wanting to transit the 32-mile waterway that connects the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean. Interestingly, some transactions are said to be discussed or conducted in cryptocurrencies, including the Chinese yuan and dollar-pegged stablecoins.

Earlier, on Wednesday, ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl queried Trump regarding these toll claims. The former president suggested the idea of a potential “joint venture” between the U.S. and Iran to secure the strait—calling it “a great thing.”

In March, while speaking with Bloomberg’s Anne-Marie Hordern, Trump was asked if Iran had the right to charge vessels for transiting the strait. To which he remarked, “Should they be able to do it? There’s no way they can’t. They’re doing it little by little.”

This month, Iran notified the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the global body overseeing shipping safety, that vessels from non-hostile nations could pass through safely, as long as they cooperated with Iranian authorities and refrained from actions against Iran. They emphasized that, as a coastal nation, Iran would uphold international legal principles and may restrict navigation for ships deemed as aggressive.

In a separate development, Iran’s National Security Committee approved a bill that would formally allow tolls for ships passing through the strait, as reported by the semi-official Fars news agency. However, this bill still needs full parliamentary approval.

The prospect of tolls has provoked criticism from U.S. allies, including Britain, Japan, and various European nations, as well as Gulf states like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Oman, who share control over this vital waterway.

According to international maritime law, coastal states hold sovereignty over waters up to 12 nautical miles from their shores, allowing them to board and inspect ships. The Strait of Hormuz falls within the maritime jurisdiction claimed by both Iran and Oman.

The IMO stated on Thursday that enacting a toll could set a “dangerous precedent,” emphasizing that international maritime law ensures free passage through straits and prohibits coastal nations from enforcing such fees. While Iran has not ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea—often cited as the basis for opposition to tolls—many Western governments and the IMO regard the principle of free passage as binding. The U.S. has also yet to ratify this treaty.

The White House has reinforced that a recent two-week cease-fire with Iran necessitates that the strait remains open without constraints. Nevertheless, maritime traffic appears significantly diminished. Reports indicate that only about a dozen ships passed through the strait in a recent 24-hour period, a stark contrast to the usual 140 before the ongoing conflict.