'20% Is Too Much': Abbas Araghchi Mocks Trump's Hormuz Fee Plan, Says Iran 'Will Be Fair'
'20% Is Too Much': Abbas Araghchi Mocks Trump's Hormuz Fee Plan, Says Iran 'Will Be Fair' Published By, Last Updated: July 14, 2026, 00:18 IST
'20% Is Too Much': Abbas Araghchi Mocks Trump's Hormuz Fee Plan, Says Iran 'Will Be Fair' Published By, Last Updated: July 14, 2026, 00:18 IST Araghchi’s remarks came after Trump announced that the US would revive a naval blockade on Iranian ports and charge ships moving through the strategic strait. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. (AFP file photo) Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday mocked US President Donald Trump’s plan to charge a 20% fee on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran would impose a lower and “fair" rate as tensions over the key waterway escalated. Araghchi’s remarks came after Trump announced that the US would revive a naval blockade on Iranian ports and charge ships moving through the strategic strait. The US president said Washington would act as the “guardian" of Hormuz and collect fees to cover the cost of securing the region. Iran Hits Back At Trump’s Plan Responding to Trump’s announcement, Araghchi said the US president was “absolutely right" that those providing security for commercial vessels should be compensated, but argued that Iran was the true protector of the waterway.
“20% is of course too much. We will be fair," Araghchi wrote in a social media post, claiming Iran had always been the “guardian" of the Strait of Hormuz and would continue in that role. POTUS is absolutely right. Whoever provides secure and safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz should be compensated for this service.Iran has always been the GUARDIAN of the Strait and will remain so FOREVER. 20% is of course too much. We will be fair — Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) July 13, 2026 Trump had earlier said the US would be “reimbursed" at a rate of 20% on all cargo transported through the strait, calling the move necessary to provide safety and security in what he described as a “very volatile section of the World". “The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran," Trump wrote, adding that the US was reinstating the Iranian blockade.
The announcement came as Washington and Tehran exchanged attacks at levels not seen since an April ceasefire. US Blockade To Start From Tuesday The US military said the renewed blockade would begin on Tuesday at 2000 GMT, with US forces resuming restrictions on maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports. The move has also drawn criticism from the United Nations’ shipping agency, which said it opposes mandatory charges for vessels passing through internationally used waterways. A spokesperson for the International Maritime Organization said the body was awaiting further details on Trump’s announcement but maintained that there was no legal basis for imposing compulsory tolls on ships simply passing through a strait. “We have always been consistent on our stance on fees – IMO stands firmly against charging fees for passage through straits used for international navigation," the spokesperson said. (With inputs from agencies) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad.
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