Trump Threatens US Tolls on Strait of Hormuz If Iran Deal Collapses in 60 Days

A new pressure lever over the world's oil artery

President Donald Trump threatened on Saturday to impose U.S. tolls on the Strait of Hormuz if a permanent deal with Iran is not sealed within 60 days, framing the charge as payment for "services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East."reuters The warning came hours after Iran's joint military command declared the strait closed over continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon, which Tehran called a "clear breach" of an interim memorandum of understanding signed Wednesday.pbs U.S. Central Command disputed the closure, reporting that 55 merchant ships carrying more than 17 million barrels of oil transited unimpeded on Saturday.euronews

Iran's negotiating delegation — led by parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi — departed Tehran for Switzerland hours after the closure announcement, while U.S. special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were already in Zurich; Vice President JD Vance said he expected to join "in the next couple of days."pbs +1

What Trump's toll threat actually means

Wednesday's memorandum calls for toll-free passage during the 60-day negotiating window.aljazeera Trump's Saturday Truth Social post confirmed that baseline but added a caveat: should the parties fail to reach a final deal, the United States — not Iran — could charge vessels for passage.reuters "There will be NO TOLLS in the Hormuz Strait for 60 days," Trump wrote, "unless they are imposed by and for the United States of America."reuters

In April, Trump mused openly with reporters about U.S. tolls, saying, "We're the winner. We won."aljazeera The strait handles roughly 20 percent of the world's oil and natural gas, and Iran's months-long closure during the conflict sent global fuel prices soaring.npr

Lebanon as the deal's most dangerous fault line

Israeli strikes killed at least 16 people — including two children — in southern Lebanon hours after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah had been announced, triggering Saturday's standoff.euronews Iran informed Hezbollah it would not reopen the strait until Israel publicly committed to a comprehensive ceasefire and withdrawal from Lebanese territory.pbs

An Israeli military official said the army had received "updated directives from the political echelon to cease fire," though Israel maintained its right to respond to Hezbollah attacks.euronews Neither Israel nor Hezbollah are signatories to the U.S.-Iran memorandum, leaving Washington to manage a framework whose most explosive variable sits entirely outside its control.pbs Pakistan confirmed talks are set to begin in Switzerland on Sunday, though Iranian officials insist the 60-day clock does not start until initial memorandum commitments are honored.france24