Donald Trump said on April 9 that Iran was doing a “very poor job” of managing the Strait of Hormuz and warned against reports that Tehran may charge tolls for oil tankers passing through the critical route.
“Iran is doing a very bad job, some would say dishonest, in allowing oil to pass through the Strait of Hormuz,” he wrote on his social network.
“That’s not our deal!”
The post came after he commented: “There are reports that Iran is charging tankers through the Strait of Hormuz – they better not be, and if they are, they should stop now!
This comes days before top US and Iranian officials meet in Islamabad on April 10 for crucial peace talks that could potentially lead to conflict in the Middle East.
The White House supports reopening the strait as part of a ceasefire deal, but says Trump opposes Iran’s military, which continues to control the waterway, in an effort to raise revenue by charging tolls on ships passing through. Meanwhile, Tehran has cited Israel’s continued attacks on Lebanon, which included the heaviest strikes of the war on Wednesday, as a key issue.
On Wednesday, Iran released a ten-point proposal to settle the war, which included maintaining control of the Strait of Hormuz, accepting Iran’s right to nuclear enrichment, lifting sanctions and ending the war, including the war against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
In the first 24 hours of the ceasefire announced by Trump on Tuesday, only one oil product tanker and five dry bulk ships passed through the strait. More than 100 ships usually passed through the strait daily in peacetime.
Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz slowed despite the ceasefire
Meanwhile, ship tracking data showed Iran has a firm grip on the Strait of Hormuz, the Botswana-flagged LNG tanker Nidi tried to leave the Persian Gulf via a route controlled by the Revolutionary Guards, but turned around suddenly and headed back early on Friday.
Four tankers and three bulk carriers passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, bringing the total number of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz to at least 12 since the ceasefire, according to data company Kpler. However, other vessels that did not broadcast their position could also make the passage unnoticed.
(With input from agencies)
