The situation surrounding the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz has taken an unexpected turn. US President Donald Trump has officially announced the abandonment of one of his administration's most controversial initiatives — the introduction of a 20% toll for vessels passing through this waterway. The decision was made following a series of "extremely productive negotiations" with leaders of Middle Eastern states.
From tolls to investments
In a statement on the social network Truth Social, Trump explained the logic behind the policy shift. Instead of collecting a commission from transit vessels, which was intended to cover security costs, Washington is pivoting to concluding large-scale trade and investment agreements with Gulf states.
The American leader emphasized that the new agreements are designed to ensure capital inflow into the US economy. According to Trump, the implementation of these plans should lead to the construction of new production facilities and the creation of millions of high-paying jobs within the country.
Iran blockade and strait status
Despite canceling the financial sanction for regional partners, Trump made a stern statement regarding Iran. The US President confirmed that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to international shipping, with the exception of vessels linked to Tehran.
Washington intends to impose a full blockade on all vessels heading to Iranian ports, departing from them, or transporting any cargo related to Iran. Concluding his message, Trump reiterated his position on the neighbor's nuclear program: Iran will "never have nuclear weapons".
Context of escalation
The decision to cancel the toll was made against the backdrop of a tense situation that arose on the night of July 12. At that time, Iran announced the complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz, claiming that several vessels attempted to pass through an unauthorized route. During the incident, Iranian forces attacked a container ship and forced it to stop, after which the US launched retaliatory strikes on Iranian targets.
However, according to a statement by the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the strait remains open to global shipping. It was precisely after these events that Trump proposed the idea that Washington should receive compensation for ensuring security in the region, but now this idea has been abandoned in favor of diplomatic and economic agreements.
