President Donald Trump (R-FL) said the United States would take control of the Strait of Hormuz and charge a 20% toll [1].
The dispute highlights a significant gap between the administration's public rhetoric and the operational reality of one of the world's most critical oil transit points. Because the waterway sits between Oman and Iran, any attempt to unilaterally seize control would challenge international maritime law, and existing regional sovereignty.
Rear Admiral John Kirby, who is retired from the U.S. Navy, addressed the claims regarding the narrow waterway. "That's not true," Kirby said [2].
Trump's comments come as part of a broader pressure campaign against Iran. The president said that the U.S. is reinstating a naval blockade and will take over the Strait to impose the 20% toll [1]. This financial measure would apply to ships transiting the waterway [1].
However, the administration's messaging has remained inconsistent. While Trump mentioned the blockade and the toll, he also said a deal with Iran and Oman to reopen the Strait was largely negotiated [3]. In a separate instance, Trump said there is no reason for the U.S. to secure the Strait of Hormuz [3].
Kirby's correction serves to counter misinformation regarding who actually controls the passage. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital artery for global energy markets, and the suggestion of a U.S.-imposed toll contradicts standard naval operations and diplomatic norms [2].
“"We will take over the Strait of Hormuz and charge a 20% toll."”
The contradiction between the president's claims and the military's assessment suggests a tension between political signaling and strategic capability. By proposing a toll and a blockade, the administration is using economic and naval threats to pressure Iran, but the lack of operational support for these claims indicates they may be negotiating tactics rather than imminent policy changes.
