U.S. President Donald Trump said the Strait of Hormuz would be opened for free passage without tolls pending the signing of an agreement [1].
This development targets one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. Because the waterway connects the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, any change in its accessibility directly impacts global energy security and shipping costs.
Trump said that the opening could occur as early as the 19th of this month [1]. The timeline remains dependent on the finalization of a formal agreement between the involved parties.
Baek Seung-hoon, a research fellow at Korea University’s Middle East Institute, said that immediate opening without tolls is a manageable step for Iran. According to Baek, the current structure of the deal prioritizes easier resolutions first to build momentum.
Under the proposed framework, the free passage of ships is treated as a relatively simple issue to resolve immediately [1]. More complex and difficult matters are deferred to a follow-up negotiation scheduled for 60 days later [1].
Baek said that the agreement separates the immediate logistical needs of the strait from broader political disputes. This approach allows the parties to secure the waterway while delaying the most contentious points of the negotiation [1].
“The Strait of Hormuz would be opened for free passage without tolls”
By decoupling the immediate issue of maritime tolls from broader diplomatic disputes, the U.S. and Iran are attempting a phased de-escalation. Successfully opening the Strait of Hormuz without immediate conflict would provide a short-term economic win and a potential blueprint for resolving the more difficult issues slated for negotiation in two months.
