Tehran asserts control over the waterway and rejects a 20% U.S. proposal, signaling a potential escalation in regional tensions.
Iran endorsed a U.S. proposal to charge vessels in the Strait of Hormuz but declared it would collect the fees instead of Washington. Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi called a 20% levy excessive, stating Iran would set a fairer rate as the waterway’s guardian.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for global oil shipments, with roughly 20% of the world’s supply passing through daily. Trump earlier suggested the U.S. would take control of the strait and impose fees following recent military exchanges.
Araghchi’s remarks on X framed the move as a challenge to U.S. authority, escalating tensions over one of the most strategically vital chokepoints in global trade.