Trump Issues Stern Warning to Iran Over Strait of Hormuz Tolls as Ceasefire Hangs in Balance
By International Desk | April 10, 2026
U.S. President Donald Trump has delivered a sharp rebuke to Iran, cautioning the regime against imposing tolls on oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, amid a fragile ceasefire that teeters on the edge of collapse.[1][2][9]
Ceasefire Terms Under Fire
The warning comes just days after Trump announced a temporary halt to U.S. bombing campaigns against Iran, secured in exchange for Tehran’s commitment to fully reopen the vital waterway—a chokepoint through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil flows.[2][9] The deal, struck hours before a deadline for escalated strikes, promised a two-week pause in hostilities to allow for negotiations.[1][9]
In a series of posts on Truth Social Thursday evening, Trump accused Iran of breaching the agreement. “Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have!” he wrote.[1][2][3]
Trump specifically addressed reports of Iranian forces demanding fees from passing vessels: “There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait — They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!”[1][2][6][9] The Strait remains under tight Iranian control, with vessels reportedly required to seek permission, submit documents, and in some cases, make payments—moves that have slashed traffic by nearly 90%, with only 10 ships crossing since the ceasefire.[5][8]
Iran’s Stance and Proposed Tolls
Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has defended the measures as assertions of sovereign rights, insisting Tehran does not seek war but will protect its interests in the Hormuz waterway.[5] Reports suggest Iran is floating a toll system that could charge up to $2 million per ship, sparking alarm over potential disruptions to global energy markets.[5]
Adding irony, Trump himself had floated the idea of tolls earlier in the week. Speaking to ABC News, he suggested a U.S.-Iran “joint venture” to collect fees, describing it as a way to secure the strait.[2][3][6] However, he has since pivoted firmly against unilateral Iranian action.[1][7]
Escalating Tensions and Diplomatic Push
Trump reiterated expectations of Iranian compliance ahead of weekend peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, where Vice President JD Vance and envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will represent the U.S.[1] Failure to adhere, he warned, could prompt “large-scale attacks.”[1]
Complicating matters, Iran accuses the U.S. of violating the ceasefire by permitting Israeli strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon—attacks that included the war’s heaviest barrages on Wednesday.[1][7] The White House counters that Lebanon’s conflict was excluded from the deal, with sources indicating separate U.S.-hosted talks to broker a Lebanon-Israel truce.[1]
Hezbollah rockets have struck northern Israel in retaliation, heightening regional volatility.[4] Analysts note Iran’s tough negotiating posture, with former British Ambassador to Israel Matthew Gould warning that Tehran seeks “maximum advantage,” including toll rights.[11]
Background: From Strikes to Standoff
The current crisis stems from Trump’s February 28 announcement of “major combat operations” against Iran, involving massive U.S.-Israeli strikes on military and government targets.[2] A deadline for reopening the strait loomed, leading to the suspension of further bombings.[2]
Global markets remain jittery, with oil prices sensitive to any prolonged disruption. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) continues to dominate the strait, escorting ships through a narrow corridor and enforcing protocols that have crippled commerce.[5][8]
International Reactions
World leaders watch warily as the U.S. flexes its military might while pursuing diplomacy. Trump’s ultimatums echo his first-term “maximum pressure” campaign, but the involvement of family-tied envoys like Kushner signals a blend of deal-making and deterrence.[1]
In Tehran, officials decry U.S. hypocrisy, pointing to ongoing Israeli actions and demanding full cessation of hostilities.[7] Meanwhile, shipping firms reroute vessels, bracing for economic fallout.[8]
Path Forward Uncertain
As envoys prepare for Islamabad, the strait symbolizes broader U.S.-Iran frictions. Trump’s rhetoric leaves little room for maneuver: oil must flow freely, or consequences will follow. With Hezbollah firing rockets and Israeli jets active, the two-week window feels perilously short.[1][4]
Stakeholders from Riyadh to Beijing urge restraint, but history suggests Hormuz disputes can ignite wider conflagrations. For now, the world holds its breath.[5][11]