Share and Follow
Iran ceasefire in jeopardy: Strait of Hormuz tensions escalate
The delicate ceasefire in Iran is under significant strain as tensions rise in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global shipping. President Donald Trump has signaled the possibility of military action unless a “REAL AGREEMENT” is achieved. In the midst of these developments, Vice President Vance and a cadre of experts have been examining Iran’s various demands, which include imposing tolls, asserting control over strategic islands, and addressing the growing cyber threats to U.S. infrastructure. Meanwhile, the global community keeps a vigilant eye on oil prices and shipping traffic, both of which are susceptible to the prevailing uncertainty.
The United Nations’ shipping agency issued a cautionary message on Thursday, expressing concern that the introduction of a toll for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz could “set a dangerous precedent.” This warning followed President Trump’s comments on Wednesday, where he floated the idea of a potential U.S.-Iranian toll system for vessels navigating this crucial waterway. In an interview with ABC News, Trump mentioned that a toll system might be considered “as a joint venture,” describing it as a means to secure the strait from various threats.
A spokesperson for the U.N.’s International Maritime Organization spoke with Reuters, emphasizing that “there is no international agreement where tolls can be introduced for transiting international straits. Any such toll will set a dangerous precedent,” underscoring the broader implications of such a move.
The Strait of Hormuz, nestled between Iran, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, stands as one of the world’s most crucial energy chokepoints. It facilitates the daily transport of approximately 20 million barrels of oil and around one-fifth of the globe’s liquefied natural gas supply, underscoring its immense strategic and economic importance.
The Strait of Hormuz, which lies between Iran, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, is one of the world’s most critical energy choke points, carrying roughly 20 million barrels of oil a day along with about one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas.
A ship is seen passing through the Strait of Hormuz during a two-week temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran on April 8, 2026. (Shady Alassar/Anadolu/Getty Images)
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also warned on Wednesday that a reported Iranian plan to charge ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz would be “completely unacceptable.”Â
“I don’t think that the international community would be ready to accept Iran setting up a toll booth for every ship that crosses the strait,” Mitsotakis, representing the world’s leading shipping power, told CNN.Â
A satellite image shows the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, vital for global energy supply. (Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital)
“This agreement cannot, I repeat, cannot include a sort of a fee that ships will have to pay every time they cross the strait,” he continued. “This was not the case before the war started, and it cannot be the case after the war finishes.”Â
The Trump administration had reached a ceasefire deal with Iran on Tuesday.
The Callisto tanker sits anchored as the traffic is down in the Strait of Hormuz, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Muscat, Oman, March 10, 2026. (Benoit Tessier / Reuters)
 “The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz. There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday morning. “We’ll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just ‘hangin’ around’ in order to make sure that everything goes well. I feel confident that it will.”Â