President Trump just floated an idea that the United States might charge a toll in the Strait of Hormuz after the war, a move that would likely demand direct US military control over the vital waterway. This proposal comes amidst ongoing tensions and a firm ultimatum from the president regarding the strategic passage. When asked on Monday if he would accept a deal allowing Iran to collect fees from ships traversing the strait, the president quickly countered with his own vision.
“What about us charging tolls?” President Trump asked reporters, as per Al Jazeera. He continued, “I’d rather do that than let them have them. Why shouldn’t we? We’re the winner. We won.” This declaration of victory has been a consistent theme from President Trump since the early days of the conflict, despite Iran’s continued drone and missile attacks across the region and its persistent blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
The president seemed to downplay Iran’s military capabilities, suggesting their actions were more psychological than substantial. “The only thing they have is the psychology of, ‘Oh, we’re going to drop a couple of mines in the water.’ All right, no, I mean, we have a concept where we’ll charge tolls,” President Trump told reporters, outlining his administration’s thinking.
This idea of the US taking control and charging tolls would fundamentally alter the geopolitical landscape of the region
This latest suggestion from President Trump arrives as he issued what he called a “final” ultimatum to Tehran. He demanded that Iran reopen the strait and agree to Washington’s terms, or face potentially devastating attacks against its civilian infrastructure.
The president told reporters that any deal with Iran simply must include the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. “We have to have a deal that’s acceptable to me, and part of that deal is going to be, we want free traffic of oil,” he emphasized, making the flow of oil a non-negotiable point in any future agreement.
The Strait of Hormuz itself is an economic linchpin, connecting the Gulf to the Indian Ocean. It lies mostly within Omani and Iranian territorial waters, making any talk of external military control incredibly complex. Before the war, roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) passed through this narrow chokepoint. Losing access or facing uncertainty there has caused oil prices to surge, rattling the world economy and affecting everyone from major corporations to everyday consumers.
Reports have also suggested that Iran is already taking matters into its own hands, allegedly charging a toll for some of the few ships it is allowing to pass through the strait. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Iranian Parliament Speaker, weighed in on X last month, stating unequivocally, “The Strait of Hormuz situation won’t return to its pre-war status.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has also called for “new arrangements” to manage the waterway after the war. He believes these arrangements should ensure safe passage for ships while also protecting Iran’s interests. “I believe that after the war, the first step should be drafting a new protocol for the Strait of Hormuz,” he said in March. He stressed that this should naturally be done between the countries that lie on both sides of the strait.
President Trump’s recent warnings about an Iranian proposal to end the war highlight the deep chasm between the two sides. He stated that the proposal was not enough to avert his threat to destroy infrastructure unless Tehran reopens the Strait of Hormuz. The president had set a Tuesday deadline for Iran to make a deal, calling it final. Amid a flurry of additional threats and claims, he said the proposal would not alleviate US action.
“It’s a significant proposal. It’s a significant step. It’s not good enough, but it’s a very significant step,” President Trump told reporters at the White House, noting that intermediaries “are negotiating now.”
Published: Apr 7, 2026 01:30 pm