President Donald Trump said Thursday that the U.S. wants the Strait of Hormuz to remain open and free of any tolls [1].
Control over this strategic waterway is critical for global energy security, as a significant portion of the world's oil passes through the narrow channel. By rejecting the toll system, the administration seeks to maintain unrestricted maritime navigation and exert leverage over Iranian nuclear ambitions.
Speaking to reporters during a White House press briefing on May 21, 2026 [1], Trump rejected a proposal from Iran to establish a permanent toll system in coordination with Oman [2]. The president said that the U.S. does not want tolls on the Strait of Hormuz [2].
"We control the Strait of Hormuz," Trump said [3].
Beyond the maritime dispute, the president linked the geopolitical tension to Iran's nuclear capabilities. He said that the U.S. intends to secure the return of nuclear materials to prevent further proliferation, a move aimed at dismantling Iran's current nuclear infrastructure.
"We will recover Iran’s enriched uranium," Trump said [4].
This stance follows previous diplomatic efforts to ensure the waterway remains open, including agreements with Chinese leadership. The administration's current approach combines the demand for free navigation with a direct challenge to Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium [4].
Trump's comments signal a refusal to recognize any Iranian-led administrative or financial control over the transit of ships through the region [2]. The U.S. position emphasizes that the freedom of navigation is a non-negotiable security priority.
“"We control the Strait of Hormuz."”
The U.S. rejection of a joint Iran-Oman toll system indicates a strategy of maximum pressure to prevent Iran from gaining legitimate administrative control or revenue from the Strait of Hormuz. By coupling the demand for free navigation with the recovery of enriched uranium, the administration is treating maritime security and nuclear non-proliferation as a single, interconnected leverage point.
