U.S. President Donald Trump said on the 8th (local time) that the United States and Iran are considering a plan to jointly collect tolls for passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
That day, President Trump said in a call with ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl, "We are thinking about pursuing this as a joint venture," adding, "This could protect the strait while also guarding it from many other forces." He added, "That's really a great thing."
Karl disclosed the details on his social media (SNS), saying, "When I asked President Trump whether it makes sense for Iran to impose tolls on all ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, I was told the United States and Iran could collect them jointly."
Earlier, the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week truce and are seeking common ground on key pending issues, including the passage issue in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran is said to have proposed in its end-of-war plan to impose tolls on ships passing through the strait and use them for postwar reconstruction expenses.
The previous day, Trump also said on his SNS, Truth Social, "The United States will help ease the traffic congestion in the Strait of Hormuz," adding, "There will be many positive steps and large revenue will be generated." He added, "Iran can begin the reconstruction process."
In particular, the mention of a "joint venture" that day is interpreted as the United States intending to go beyond simple mediation and directly engage in the toll collection process. If this plan is realized, it would effectively signal that the United States intends to take on management of the Strait of Hormuz.
Although the specific method of imposing tolls and the revenue-sharing structure have not yet been disclosed, there is speculation that the United States would participate with a certain equity stake to secure revenue under the banner of management and security.
The United States has also been deeply involved in controlling Venezuela's oil exports since ousting President Nicolás Maduro in January this year.