PNN – US President Donald Trump has backed away from his claim made yesterday—in which he asserted he would impose a 20% tariff on the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway over which he holds no jurisdiction.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network; the US President wrote on the social media platform Truth Social today, Tuesday, that he has replaced the proposed 20% tariff on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz with trade and investment deals involving Persian Gulf nations in the United States.
While Iran has insisted that the Strait of Hormuz is closed due to U.S. actions that escalate tensions, Trump claimed that oil is flowing as before and that the strait remains open to all vessels except those from Iran.
Referring to what he described as a naval blockade against Iran, he added: We will have a complete blockade, but only on ships traveling to and from Iranian ports, or anything involving Iranian cargo on passing vessels.
Trump—who has frequently floated proposals only to quickly backtrack on them—claimed: Based on highly constructive conversations with Middle Eastern leaders, I have decided to replace the proposed 20% tariff with trade and investment deals that various Persian Gulf nations will undertake in the United States.
The U.S. President described these investments as massive, asserting that they would simultaneously be exceptionally beneficial for the Persian Gulf nations and their future.
Just yesterday, he had claimed that the U.S. intended to become the “guardian of the Strait of Hormuz” and levy a 20% tariff on the value of a ship’s cargo in exchange for its passage—a claim that met with a negative international reaction.
Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, responded to this remark by writing on the social media platform X: The President of the United States is absolutely right. Whoever ensures the safe and secure passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz deserves to be compensated for this service.
He further noted: Iran has always been the guardian of security in the Strait of Hormuz and will remain so forever. Of course, 20 percent is a very high figure; we will be fair!