Iran continues charging fees to oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz despite President Trump's Thursday evening warning to stop, as ship traffic through the critical waterway remains far below normal levels following this week's ceasefire agreement.
Only six vessels crossed the strait Thursday — two oil tankers, three cargo ships, and one fuel supply vessel — compared to 11 ships on Tuesday when the ceasefire was announced, according to global tracking firm MarineTraffic. The numbers reveal how the fragile truce has failed to restore normal commercial traffic through the chokepoint that handles roughly 20% of global oil shipments.
"There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait — They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!" Trump posted on Truth Social Thursday evening. The warning came after maritime intelligence firm Lloyd's List confirmed Iran has been using Larak Island, located miles off Iran's coast, as a tolling stop for tankers during the conflict.
The toll dispute highlights a fundamental contradiction in Trump's approach. Speaking to reporters Monday, the president had floated charging American tolls for strait passage, saying "We have a concept where we'll charge tolls." Now he's demanding Iran cease similar practices that analysts say have been ongoing throughout the war.
Since fighting began February 28, at least 212 oil and chemical tankers have crossed the strait, representing 58% of all vessel traffic. Nearly one-third of those crossings occurred during the first two days of combat. The tanker fleet includes vessels flagged to Panama (43), Iran (37), Liberia (25), and Palau (15), underscoring the international nature of the commercial disruption.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined diplomatic pressure on Iran during a Thursday night call with Trump. Speaking from Qatar where he's meeting Gulf leaders, Starmer discussed "the need to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," according to his spokesperson. The leaders "agreed that now there is a ceasefire in place and agreement to open the Strait, we are at the next stage of finding a resolution."
Trump has repeatedly criticized Starmer throughout the conflict for being too hesitant to provide military assistance, making their alignment on strait access notable. Starmer is working to "convene partners to agree a viable plan" for the waterway, his office said.
The ceasefire's fragility became apparent late Thursday when Israeli forces struck Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, warning that the Iranian-backed group could expand projectile launches across Israel. The military action threatens to unravel the two-week truce before permanent negotiations can begin.
For American energy consumers and the broader economy, continued Iranian tolling combined with reduced tanker traffic could maintain upward pressure on oil prices. The standoff also tests Trump's ability to project strength while pursuing diplomatic solutions with Tehran.
Watch for whether Iran responds to Trump's ultimatum and if tanker traffic increases in coming days as evidence of the ceasefire's durability.
