Overview
- President Donald Trump warned Tehran to drop any fees for ships in the Strait of Hormuz, setting the tone for U.S.–Iran talks in Islamabad during a temporary ceasefire.
- Reports from Financial Times and Bloomberg describe a $1-per-barrel tariff on oil cargoes, possible cryptocurrency payments, and per‑vessel charges that could reach $2 million shared with Oman.
- Iranian state TV carried a statement attributed to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei saying Iran will take management of the Strait to a new level and will not give up its rights.
- Leaders from the European Union, the United Kingdom, Greece, and Japan rejected the toll plan and pressed for free and safe passage under international law.
- The stakes are high for shippers and energy buyers because Hormuz carries about 20 million barrels of oil a day plus major liquefied gas flows, and earlier wartime disruptions already drove prices higher.