The ongoing US-Israel war on Iran has triggered a massive disruption to global shipping. The conflict effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, blocking roughly 20% of the world’s oil and liquid natural gas supply from reaching international markets. Now, the White House wants to monetize the waterway.
US President Donald Trump announced a concept on Monday to place the strategic chokepoint under American control. He intends to charge commercial vessels a toll for passage once the war concludes. Trump issued a final ultimatum to Tehran, threatening to destroy Iranian power plants and bridges if the government does not accept US terms to reopen the strait.
Trump framed the potential policy as a reward for military success. “What about us charging tolls? I’d rather do that than let them have them. Why shouldn’t we? We’re the winner. We won,” he said.
Iranian officials immediately rejected the proposal. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated the waterway will not return to its pre-war operational status. They called for a new regulatory protocol drafted exclusively by countries bordering the Persian Gulf, according to an Al Jazeera report.
Trump says he is considering charging a U.S. toll in the Strait of Hormuz.#Irán #IranWar
— Ashok Kumar (@Ashok2103) April 6, 2026
The economic shocks of the blockade are already severe. International oil prices skyrocketed, hitting daily consumers in Southeast Asia and squeezing the Kremlin’s war revenues in Ukraine. The US proposal represents an unprecedented upheaval of international maritime law. Because the Strait of Hormuz lies predominantly within the territorial waters of Oman and Iran, unilaterally placing the waterway under direct US military control to extract toll revenue would effectively transform one of the globe’s most vital maritime chokepoints into an American-managed asset. This upends decades of established free-navigation principles. The White House recently signaled a broader shift in this direction by considering asking Arab countries to fund Washington’s war expenses directly.