US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said it would be “unacceptable” for any future agreement with Iran to include fees on shipping or maritime activities through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, warning that such a move would set a precedent for other global waterways.
Speaking to reporters alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump said imposing transit charges in the Strait of Hormuz would be a “game changer” and something the United States would not support.
“That would be unacceptable to me because we have numerous straits and if you did that for them, you’d have to do it for other people,” Trump said when asked whether he would oppose a final Iran deal containing shipping fees.
The US president also expressed confidence in ongoing negotiations with Iran, claiming that Tehran was making significant concessions following recent military tensions.
“We’re doing great in our negotiations with Iran. The war is going very well. Iran is making very big concessions. We’ll see what happens, but it’s been very powerful,” Trump said.
Trump additionally criticized Democratic lawmakers, accusing them of opposing his administration’s approach toward Iran and claiming that US policy was yielding results.
The remarks came as the White House highlighted a decline in global oil prices, with crude falling to around $70 per barrel, its lowest level since before the recent Iran conflict. Trump said the drop demonstrated market confidence despite regional tensions.
“I see that oil just broke the $70 number. Who would have thought that was going to happen? And that’s during a war,” he said.
Meanwhile, Iran pushed back against US claims, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei accusing Washington of destabilizing the region through military intervention.
In a post on X, Baqaei said lasting peace in the Middle East would remain elusive as long as “American militarism and interventionism persist,” while also criticizing US support for Israel and accusing it of contributing to regional conflicts.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of global oil and gas shipments pass, remains a critical maritime chokepoint. Any proposal to impose transit fees on commercial shipping could have far-reaching implications for global trade, energy markets and international shipping operations.