President Donald Trump, on June 20, threatened that the United States could impose a new toll on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz if a long-term peace deal isn’t reached with Iran within the next two months.
“There will be NO TOLLS in the Hormuz Strait for 60 days during the Cease Fire Period, and there will be NO TOLLS after the 60 day period has expired, unless they are imposed by and for the United States of America, should the deal not be completed, for services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East for purposes of both past, present, and future reimbursement of costs,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
Trump’s message was issued as Washington and Tehran continue to work toward a long-term peace agreement.
The Strait of Hormuz—which constricts a major maritime trade route for petrochemicals and other commodities—had become heavily contested during the recent armed standoff between Iran and the United States.
A memorandum of understanding, signed by Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on June 17, set terms for restoring traffic through the key maritime waterway during a 60-day period in which both countries would negotiate toward a final peace deal.
Trump threatened to impose a toll just hours after Iranian authorities announced they had closed the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic. Iranian authorities said they closed the waterway in retaliation for continuing Israeli military operations in Lebanon.
Lebanon has also proven to be a persistent sticking point for advancing peace efforts between Iran and the United States. The new memorandum of understanding states that the United States, Iran, and their respective allies would “declare the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.”
Four Israeli soldiers were killed overnight on June 19 while conducting operations in the Beaufort and Ali a-Tayr Ridge areas to uproot underground Hezbollah weapons caches and fighting positions. Israeli forces subsequently carried out dozens of retaliatory strikes throughout southern Lebanon.
In an X post on Saturday, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter said the Hezbollah terrorist group was to blame for the ceasefire breach.
Hezbollah’s media relations wing, in turn, said Israel was primarily to blame for the recent clashes because Israeli forces were continuing to operate in southern Lebanon.
By Ryan Morgan
