Trump: Iran Must Not Charge Tankers in Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump said Iran should not charge fees to tankers passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He was reacting to reports that Tehran was collecting tolls from ships transiting the waterway. He added that if this was happening, Iran should "stop it immediately".
The collection of transit fees has also been rejected by other Western leaders.
The conflict between the US, Israel and Iran, which erupted in late February, has significantly disrupted global energy supplies and pushed up oil prices. The Strait of Hormuz, through which around a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied gas normally passes, remains heavily restricted. Shipping traffic is still only a fraction of normal volumes despite the ceasefire.
Trump has also suggested that oil supplies would resume "with or without Iran’s help".