US President Donald Trump has said the Strait of Hormuz will reopen “fairly soon”, even as tensions continue over Tehran’s reported restrictions on the key global shipping route ahead of US-Iran talks in Pakistan.
Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One in Maryland, Trump said Washington would not accept what he described as Iran’s imposition of a “de facto toll booth system” on shipping in the vital waterway, reports Al Jazeera.
“We will have that open fairly soon,” Trump said, adding that the US would “open up the Gulf” with assistance from other countries if necessary. However, he did not provide details on how the waterway would be unblocked.
The US president warned that Iran would not be allowed to charge vessel owners fees for safe passage through the strait, saying, “If they are doing that, we’re not going to let that happen.”
Trump linked the issue to broader negotiations, saying the priority of any peace agreement would be ensuring Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons. “No nuclear weapons, that’s 99 per cent of it,” he said, adding that the strait would “open automatically” under such a deal.
His comments come amid continued disruption in the Strait of Hormuz despite a two-week ceasefire announced earlier this week between the US and Iran. Shipping traffic remains significantly reduced, with only a fraction of normal daily transits recorded and hundreds of vessels reportedly stranded in the Gulf, according to tracking data cited by international media.
Iran has indicated it may introduce transit fees for vessels passing through the strait, even as diplomatic efforts continue. Analysts say the situation remains largely unchanged despite the ceasefire, with Iran effectively controlling a “safe corridor” for selected shipping.
US Vice President JD Vance has arrived in Pakistan for negotiations with Iranian representatives aimed at securing a more lasting settlement to the conflict. However, officials from both sides have offered differing accounts of the proposed terms ahead of the talks.