Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said President Trump is 'completely right' that those providing safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz should be compensated, but called the proposed 20% fee excessive, adding that Iran will be 'fair'.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday evening endorsed President Trump's principle of charging for passage through the Strait of Hormuz while pushing back on the specific 20% fee announced by the White House hours earlier.
"Anyone who provides safe and secure passage for commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz should receive compensation for this service," Araghchi said. "Of course, 20% is too much. We will be fair."
The statement marks a notable shift in tone from Tehran's earlier blanket rejection of U.S. guardianship over the strait. Earlier Monday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps insisted it maintains authority over the waterway, as The Zioneer reported. At 18:42, President Trump announced the restoration of the Iran blockade and a 20% fee on all cargo passing through Hormuz, claiming the role of 'Guardian of the Strait.'
Araghchi's remarks echo his earlier post-war management plan for the strait, which he detailed in June, proposing joint toll collection with Oman. The foreign minister's latest comments suggest Iran is willing to negotiate the terms of the toll rather than reject the principle outright — a potential opening for indirect talks.
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