US President Donald Trump has declared that any inclusion of fees on maritime activities in the Strait of Hormuz as part of a final agreement with Iran would be 'unacceptable.' Speaking to reporters during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday, Trump emphasized that such a provision would set a dangerous precedent for other strategic waterways.
Trump's Stance on Shipping Fees
'Yeah it would be unacceptable to me because we have numerous straits that if you did that for them you'd have to do it for other people. You have other straits, well I wouldn't allow it there either. Yeah it would be a game changer,' Trump said when asked if he would block an Iran deal that included any kind of shipping fees.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, and any fees could significantly impact international trade and energy prices. Trump's comments came as his administration continues negotiations with Iran amid an ongoing conflict.
Criticism of Democrats and War Progress
Trump also took aim at Democratic lawmakers, accusing them of wanting to lose the war with Iran. 'We had four Republican Senators and all Democrats. You know Democrats they want to lose the war because they're stupid. That's why we call them DUMocrats you know I no longer use the E I use I've changed the E into a U. We call them DUMocrats they're dumb. Their policy is so bad,' he stated.
Despite the conflict, Trump claimed the war was going well. 'The war is going very well. As you know, we're winning by a lot. Iran is making very big concessions. We'll see what happens. But it's been very, very, very powerful. It's going very, very well,' he said.
Oil Prices Drop Amid Conflict
Earlier in the day, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that oil prices had dropped near $70 a barrel, the lowest level since before the Iran war. Trump commented on the development, saying, 'I see that oil just broke the $70 number. Who would have thought that was going to happen? And that's during a war. And Iran is being very nice. They're agreeing to everything that I want and they have to. Otherwise, we just go back and do what we have to do.'
The drop in oil prices to near $70 a barrel marks a significant decline, suggesting market expectations of a resolution or reduced disruption to supply from the region.
Iran's Response
Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei responded to a US Department of State post on X, rejecting the notion of a peaceful region under American influence. 'No one will be fooled; we can't have a peaceful region so long as American militarism and interventionism persist, and their occupying proxy continues, with absolute impunity, to inflict endless wars across the region and perpetrate genocide, terror violence and every atrocities,' Baqaei wrote.
The exchange highlights the deep mistrust between the two nations as negotiations continue. Trump's firm stance on shipping fees could become a major sticking point in reaching a final deal.
