On Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi pushed back against President Donald Trump’s plan to impose a 20% fee on cargo moving through the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that Tehran—not Washington—is the rightful guardian of the strategic waterway.
Araghchi Responds To Trump’s 20% Strait Of Hormuz Cargo Fee
Araghchi criticized Trump’s announcement in a post on X after the president declared that America would become the “Guardian of the Hormuz Strait” and charge a 20% fee on all cargo passing through one of the world’s busiest oil shipping routes.
“POTUS is absolutely right. Whoever provides secure and safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz should be compensated for this service,” Araghchi wrote.
He then argued that “Iran has always been the GUARDIAN of the Strait and will remain so FOREVER,” adding, “20% is of course too much. We will be fair.”
Trump, meanwhile, said the fee would compensate the U.S. for the costs of securing navigation through the waterway. On Truth Social, he wrote that the “process and formation will begin immediately.”
Trump Reimposes Iran Port Blockade As Tensions Escalate
In the same announcement, Trump said the U.S. would reinstate its blockade of Iranian ports near the Strait of Hormuz, with U.S. Central Command saying the move would resume Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.
Trump also wrote that the strait “is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran,” while asserting that countries other than Iran would continue to enjoy “fair and open use” of the passage.
The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments, making it one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints.
International Law Questions Trump’s Proposal
Trump’s proposed cargo fee quickly drew criticism from international maritime authorities. In a statement to CNBC, the International Maritime Organization said there is “no legal basis” for imposing mandatory transit tolls on ships using an international strait.
The position aligns with earlier comments from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said that “no country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway” under existing international law.
The latest exchange comes as military tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to intensify.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock/ A.PAES
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