Iran told US no Hormuz tolls, talks will end if details are untrue: Trump
Donald Trump said Iran had assured the United States that ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz would not face tolls, insurance fees or any other charges.
Seeking to calm fears that Iran could begin charging ships to pass through Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Tehran had assured it would not impose tolls, insurance fees or any other charges on vessels transiting the strait.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran had informed the US that there would be "NO TOLLS, NO INSURANCE COSTS, & NO OTHER CHARGES OF ANY KIND" on ships using the strategic waterway.
"If this is false information, negotiations would end, immediately!" Trump wrote.
Questions over potential shipping charges emerged after reports and comments from Iranian officials claimed Tehran would play a greater role in managing traffic through Strait of Hormuz following ongoing negotiations. Discussions involving Iranian and Omani officials on maritime services in the waterway fuelled speculation that transit fees could eventually be introduced. The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly a fifth of the world's seaborne oil trade and remains one of the most strategically important shipping routes in the world.
TRUMP DENIES MONEY TRANSFERS TO IRAN
The US President also rejected reports that the US had transferred money to Iran as part of ongoing negotiations.
"Additionally, no money has been given to Iran, or released from their money to them, by the US," Trump said.
Instead, Trump said Washington planned to release some Iranian funds under US control to finance purchases of American agricultural products, including corn, wheat and soybeans.
"We will be releasing some of their money, that is totally controlled by us, to our farmers and ranchers," he said, adding that the food would be supplied exclusively from the US because it was "desperately needed" in Iran.
UNFROZEN IRANIAN FUNDS TO BUY AMERICAN CROPS
It also shed light on a broader proposal under discussion during the US-Iran negotiations involving billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets.
US Vice President JD Vance recently outlined a mechanism that would allow Iran access to some of its frozen funds while giving Washington oversight over how the money is spent. According to him, the proposal was conceived by Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, and developed in coordination with Qatar.
"We wanted to make sure that we set up a process where if we ever unfreeze Iranian assets, we can ensure that money goes to help the people of Iran and not to fund terrorism," Vance said after high-level talks in Burgenstock, Switzerland.
Under the proposed framework, any unfrozen Iranian funds would be subject to approval by both US and Qatari authorities before being used to purchase American agricultural products, including corn and wheat, for Iran.
The proposal appears aimed at addressing concerns among Iran critics who argue that sanctions relief could indirectly strengthen Tehran's regional influence. US have long maintained that strict oversight and humanitarian spending restrictions can prevent funds from reaching armed groups or military activities.
The arrangement would resemble a mechanism used during former President Joe Biden's administration. In 2023, Iranian funds held in South Korea were transferred as part of a prisoner exchange deal and could only be used for approved humanitarian purchases such as food and medicine under US-monitored channels.
Seeking to calm fears that Iran could begin charging ships to pass through Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Tehran had assured it would not impose tolls, insurance fees or any other charges on vessels transiting the strait.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran had informed the US that there would be "NO TOLLS, NO INSURANCE COSTS, & NO OTHER CHARGES OF ANY KIND" on ships using the strategic waterway.
"If this is false information, negotiations would end, immediately!" Trump wrote.
Questions over potential shipping charges emerged after reports and comments from Iranian officials claimed Tehran would play a greater role in managing traffic through Strait of Hormuz following ongoing negotiations. Discussions involving Iranian and Omani officials on maritime services in the waterway fuelled speculation that transit fees could eventually be introduced. The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly a fifth of the world's seaborne oil trade and remains one of the most strategically important shipping routes in the world.
TRUMP DENIES MONEY TRANSFERS TO IRAN
The US President also rejected reports that the US had transferred money to Iran as part of ongoing negotiations.
"Additionally, no money has been given to Iran, or released from their money to them, by the US," Trump said.
Instead, Trump said Washington planned to release some Iranian funds under US control to finance purchases of American agricultural products, including corn, wheat and soybeans.
"We will be releasing some of their money, that is totally controlled by us, to our farmers and ranchers," he said, adding that the food would be supplied exclusively from the US because it was "desperately needed" in Iran.
UNFROZEN IRANIAN FUNDS TO BUY AMERICAN CROPS
It also shed light on a broader proposal under discussion during the US-Iran negotiations involving billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets.
US Vice President JD Vance recently outlined a mechanism that would allow Iran access to some of its frozen funds while giving Washington oversight over how the money is spent. According to him, the proposal was conceived by Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, and developed in coordination with Qatar.
"We wanted to make sure that we set up a process where if we ever unfreeze Iranian assets, we can ensure that money goes to help the people of Iran and not to fund terrorism," Vance said after high-level talks in Burgenstock, Switzerland.
Under the proposed framework, any unfrozen Iranian funds would be subject to approval by both US and Qatari authorities before being used to purchase American agricultural products, including corn and wheat, for Iran.
The proposal appears aimed at addressing concerns among Iran critics who argue that sanctions relief could indirectly strengthen Tehran's regional influence. US have long maintained that strict oversight and humanitarian spending restrictions can prevent funds from reaching armed groups or military activities.
The arrangement would resemble a mechanism used during former President Joe Biden's administration. In 2023, Iranian funds held in South Korea were transferred as part of a prisoner exchange deal and could only be used for approved humanitarian purchases such as food and medicine under US-monitored channels.
