Donald Trump may be part of Iran to CHARGE ships $1m to cross Strait of Hormuz
Donald Trump has floated the idea of earning even more cash from the Iran war by charging ships to cross the Strait of Hormuz, after decades of free travel through the waterway
Trump had previously promised to “end a civilisation” before agreeing a ceasefire with Iran(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Donald Trump could try and profit from the ceasefire with Iran by imposing a toll on the Strait of Hormuz.
The US President reportedly claimed it would be a “beautiful thing” if the US and Iran could work together to secure a revenue stream from the Strait with an unnamed regional official telling the Associated Press that Iran wants to charge up to $1 million on ships. Other sources claimed Iran and Oman would already be working together to enforce a toll.
Any revenue earned would go directly to rebuilding Iran after the war, anonymous sources told the Associated Press. It would be an end to a decades-long international agreement for ships to travel through the waterway free of charge.
Trump suggested he would want to also benefit from the possible new tolls, however. The ceasefire deal marked a way for the US to work in tandem with the Iranians for the Strait of Hormuz, he said.
READ MORE: Do you trust Trump after he promised to ‘end a civilisation’? Take our poll and have your sayREAD MORE: Israeli intelligence FURIOUS over Trump ceasefire and determined to continue Iran war
He told ABC: “We’re thinking of doing it as a joint venture. It’s a way of securing it — also securing it from lots of other people. It’s a beautiful thing.”
Just hours ago, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said that the passageway would be controlled by the Iranian military. It suggests further diplomatic conflict could be around the corner.
Trump announced an 11th-hour ceasefire deal hours before his arbitrary deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The President had previoulsy threatened a mass bombing rampage that would “end a civilisation”.
He wrote on his Truth Social last night: “Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.
“This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate. Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated. On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this Longterm problem close to resolution. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
But, it’s still not entirely clear whether the ceasefire deal included a change to Iran’s nuclear programme. Trump claimed Iran agreed to remove its buried enriched uranium, but that’s already been disputed by the Iranians.
Also, in the hours following the ceasefire announcment, some Gulf countries had already reported being attacked by Iran. Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates all issued warnings about incoming missiles.
