diplomacyMay 21, 2026

Trump expresses opposition to toll system in Strait of Hormuz - The Korea Times

Summary

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday voiced his opposition to the imposition of tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran is reportedly in talks with Oman to establish a toll system amid its push for control over traffic through the crucial waterway. Trump made the remarks during a press availability at the White House amid concerns about continuing disruptions to shipping through the strait, a vital waterway for shipments of oil, natural gas, fertilizer and other commodities. "We want it free. We don't want tolls," Trump said, arguing that the strait is an "international waterway." He also stressed that the United States has "total" control of the Strait of Hormuz with its military blockade of Iranian ports and vessels, which he cast as a "steel wall." "The blockade has been 100 percent effective," he said. Earlier, Bloomberg reported that Iran's Ambassador to France Mohammad Amin-Nejad said that the Islamic Republic is discussing with Oman ways to set up some form of a permanent toll system to formalize control of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. In a meeting with reporters, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that a diplomatic agreement with Iran would be "unfeasible," should Tehran put a tolling system in place for the strait. "It would be unacceptable and it would make a diplomatic deal unfeasible," he said. During the press availability at the White House, Trump put pressure on Tehran to renounce its nuclear ambitions, warning of "something drastic." "We are going to either make sure they don't have a nuclear weapon, or we are going to have to do something very drastic," he said. The president also reiterated that his administration will take Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium. "We will get it. We don't need it. We don't want it," he said. "We will probably destroy it after we get it, but we are not going to let them have it."

Perspectives

Iranian Official

Iran asserts its sovereign rights over the Strait of Hormuz by advancing discussions with Oman to establish a toll system regulating vital maritime traffic through its territorial waters. This legitimate measure counters ongoing U.S. aggression, including an illegal military blockade and threats that undermine regional stability and Iran's control. Tehran remains resolute in resisting foreign interference to defend its national interests and independence.

Israeli

Iran's bid to impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz forms part of its broader strategy to choke vital energy routes while advancing a nuclear program that poses an existential threat to Israel. This maneuver bolsters Tehran's proxy networks, from Hezbollah to the Houthis, enabling sustained attacks on Israeli and international shipping under the guise of "control." Defensive necessity demands sustained U.S. military pressure, including the reported blockade, to prevent any formalization of Iranian dominance that would render diplomacy impossible.

Neutral

U.S. President Donald Trump stated at a White House press availability that the Strait of Hormuz should remain free of tolls as an international waterway and asserted U.S. military control over the area through a blockade. Bloomberg reported that Iran’s ambassador to France said Tehran is discussing a toll system with Oman. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that implementing such a system would make a diplomatic agreement with Iran unfeasible.

Western

President Trump reaffirmed U.S. opposition to any Iranian-imposed tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that the vital international waterway must remain open for free navigation of global energy shipments. He highlighted the effectiveness of U.S. military operations in maintaining a total blockade of Iranian ports and vessels, describing it as a precise "steel wall" that has neutralized Tehran's attempts to control traffic. Secretary of State Rubio warned that such tolling efforts would render any diplomatic agreement unfeasible, as the U.S. continues to pressure Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

Pro-Peace

US President Trump's assertion of military "blockade" control over the Strait of Hormuz and rejection of any Iranian-Omani toll system heighten risks of escalation, where naval confrontations or sanctions could spike global energy costs and trigger shortages that devastate civilians across import-dependent nations. Such rhetoric, including warnings that diplomacy would become "unfeasible," prioritizes confrontation over talks, echoing past conflicts whose civilian tolls—displacement, medical crises, and lost livelihoods—far outweigh strategic gains. Renewed multilateral negotiations remain the viable path to secure open waterways without further humanitarian harm.

Global South

Iran's discussions with Oman on a toll system represent a sovereign assertion of control over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint shared with Oman, to regulate traffic and generate revenue from global oil flows. U.S. President Trump's rejection of tolls and boasts of a "steel wall" blockade expose neo-colonial efforts to dominate international waterways, prioritizing Western energy security over the rights of littoral states. This standoff highlights the persistent failure of bodies like the UN to curb unilateral blockades and enforce equitable access for Global South nations dependent on stable commodity routes.

Actors involved

USIran

Sources

CurrentsAPI
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday voiced his opposition to the imposition of tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran is reportedly in talks with Oman to establish a toll system amid its push for control over traffic through the crucial waterway. Trump made the r…

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