In a Truth Social post today, President Donald Trump abandoned his proposal first aired Monday for the United States to charge a 20% transit fee for providing security for cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Instead, the U.S. is seeking trade and investment commitments from various Persian Gulf states.
“Based on highly productive conversations with Middle East leadership, I have decided to replace the 20% United States Reimbursement Fee with Trade and Investment Deals that the various Gulf States will be making into the United States,” Mr. Trump wrote.
“We will therefore have a FULL Blockade, but only on Ships coming to and from Iranian ports, or carrying anything have to do with Iranian cargo,” Mr. Trump added.
No details were offered on the countries or investment amounts involved.
His latest post came shortly before U.S. Central Command prepared to begin enforcing a renewed blockade of all Iranian ports and coastal areas at 4 p.m. ET today.
Such a shipping charge (already previously threatened by Iran) would have conflicted with the reiterated strong position of Oman as well as of the UN agency, the International Maritime Organization, that commercial ships are entitled to unimpeded passages through international straits free of tolls and charges under international law.
Among global shipping firms, Hapag-Lloyd issued a statement saying: “It would be fundamentally wrong to levy fees for passage through international waters.”
(IMO photo of ships in Hormuz Strait)