President Trump threatened to impose U.S. tolls in the Strait of Hormuz if a final deal with Iran isn’t reached within 60 days, even as Vice President JD Vance held direct talks with Iranian officials in Switzerland on Sunday to advance the fragile interim agreement signed earlier this week.
Trump, at Camp David on Saturday, said that while the initial agreement guarantees toll-free passage through the vital waterway for 60 days, “there will be NO TOLLS after the 60 day period has expired, unless they are imposed by and for the United States of America, should the deal not be completed,” according to the Associated Press. Trump said the money would be for “services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East.”
The threat came as Iran announced it had closed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday in response to continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon, accusing the United States of breaching its commitments under the memorandum of understanding signed last week. Iran’s joint military command said the closure was a response to what it called the U.S. “clear breach of its commitments” by failing to end fighting on all fronts, according to the AP.
The U.S. military disputed Iran’s claim. “Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz. Traffic continues to flow, and U.S. forces are monitoring the situation to ensure this remains the case,” said Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, according to AP reporting. CENTCOM said 55 merchant ships transited the waterway on Saturday carrying more than 17 million barrels of oil.
Despite the tensions, Vance arrived in Switzerland on Sunday morning to meet with Iranian negotiators at the Bürgenstock ski resort near Lucerne. The Vice President met with the prime ministers of Pakistan and Qatar—the key mediators—before joining a trilateral meeting with Iran’s delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to Axios. The talks mark the first round of direct negotiations since an interim agreement was signed on June 17.
Speaking to reporters before the trilateral meeting, Vance said the U.S. goal extends beyond reopening the Strait of Hormuz. “The question is — can we turn over a new leaf? Can we change relations in the Middle East permanently, or do we go back to doing things the old way, which is not our preference but is certainly something that can happen,” Vance said, according to Axios.
Yet Trump’s rhetoric threatened to undermine those efforts. While Vance was in talks, Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble. If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!” according to NPR. Iran’s chief negotiator Ghalibaf responded sharply, writing on social media: “We do not take American threats seriously. They would do well to be careful about their statements. Our armed forces are prepared to respond to them in a different manner.”
The interim deal, signed by Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on June 17, gives negotiators 60 days to reach a final agreement on Iran’s nuclear program. The accord also calls for a permanent end to hostilities and respect for Lebanese sovereignty. However, fighting between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah has continued despite a ceasefire agreement announced Friday, putting pressure on the broader negotiations.
On Saturday, Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon killed at least 16 people, including civilians, according to the Lebanese National News Agency. Israel said the strikes were a response to Hezbollah firing projectiles at its forces. A Hezbollah official told the AP that Iran informed the group it would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until Israel publicly commits to a comprehensive ceasefire in Lebanon and an end to military operations there.
The interim deal also lifts the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, allowing Iran to sell oil freely, and calls for Iran’s frozen assets to be unfrozen. However, the memorandum does not rule out future tolls on the Strait after the initial 60-day toll-free period, a point that has drawn criticism domestically and fueled Trump’s threat to impose American tolls if negotiations fail.
Sources
- Associated Press — Trump’s Strait of Hormuz toll threat, Iran’s closure announcement, CENTCOM’s dispute of Iran’s claim, and details of Iran’s reasons for closure
- Axios — Vance’s arrival in Switzerland, trilateral meeting details, and Vance’s quote on changing Middle East relations
- NPR — Trump’s threat to “hit Iran very hard again,” Ghalibaf’s response, and details on ceasefire violations in Lebanon
- Reuters — Confirmation of Trump’s toll threat and the interim deal’s toll-free provisions
