On Monday, President Trump announced on the Fox News program “Fox & Friends” that the United States was going to reinstate the blockade of Iranian ports and were “going to get paid for guarding” the Strait of Hormuz, adding that the United States “will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20 percent,” for all cargo that passes through the waters. This put the president in a bind with his inner circle, because for decades the Strait had been considered an international waterway and therefore, not subject to a toll by any country. Just last month on an official trip through the Middle East, Secretary of State Marco Rubio referred to the Strait: “No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway. That’s existing international law. That’s the way it is in international waterways all over the world, and that’s the way we expect it’ll be here.”
Mr. Rubio made his announcement before he attended a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council, a group of oil-exporting Gulf Arab countries. After the meeting ended, the United States signed a joint declaration of the Council affirming that the nations “rejected any tolls, fees or attempts to assert control over the strait.”
Vice President JD Vance affirmed a similar position on June 18 as he discussed a cease-fire deal between the United States and Iran that was aimed at reopening the waterway. During a press conference that same day, Vance affirmed, “We believe international waterways should be free of tolls.”
Later on Tuesday, President Trump made a complete reversal and announced there would no 20% toll. Instead of a toll, nations would invest in the American economy. What led up to this change of plans? Three explanations have been offered.
- The 20% toll would be extremely costly for Arab oil-exporting countries in the region including allies of the United States.
- Legal experts and the International Maritime Organization criticized the idea of a toll because such charges violate maritime law on international waterways. It would also appear hypocritical as Trump has repeatedly claimed that Iran had no right to charge tolls on ships going through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Shipping companies warned that such a high fee would reduce traffic through the Strait. Experts predicted that the fee would increase global oil prices, potentially raising U.S. gasoline costs by 30–40 cents per gallon.
Vance and Rubio are not my favorite politicians, in part, because they are “yes men” and they do not have a reputation for telling the truth. Nevertheless, on this issue, they were right. I am glad Trump changed his position, whatever were his reasons. Submitting to international law is important, especially for Trump.
Lindy Scott 