President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called a U.S. proposal to tax cargo in the Strait of Hormuz an act of piracy.

The dispute highlights growing tensions over global energy security and the potential for U.S. maritime policy to destabilize domestic economies in developing nations.

Speaking during a public event in São Caetano do Sul, São Paulo, on June 26, 2026 [1], Lula condemned the plan by U.S. President Donald Trump to levy a 20% toll [1] on ships passing through the strategic waterway. Lula said the world is full of crazy people and targeted the proposal as a form of economic aggression [1].

Lula said the measure would lead to higher oil prices, which would subsequently fuel inflation within Brazil [1]. The Brazilian leader framed the toll as a threat to national security, and global trade stability.

The proposal has triggered conflicting claims regarding the control of the corridor. Abbas Araqchi, the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, said Tehran controls everything that happens in the Strait of Hormuz for the next 30 days [2].

Conversely, the U.S. Department of Defense said the United States will not tolerate any violation of the cease-fire in the Hormuz corridor [3]. The tension centers on whether the U.S. can unilaterally impose financial levies on a region where Iran claims operational dominance.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most critical chokepoints for oil transit. Any disruption or additional cost imposed on shipping in this region typically results in immediate price volatility for crude oil globally [1].

“"The president of the USA wants to charge a toll of 20% on the cargo that crosses the Strait of Hormuz – that is piracy."”

This confrontation signals a shift in Brazil's diplomatic relations with the U.S., as Lula prioritizes economic stability and South-South cooperation over alignment with Washington. By labeling the toll as 'piracy,' Brazil is positioning itself as a defender of international maritime law against unilateral U.S. financial impositions that could trigger a domestic cost-of-living crisis.