Trump retreat over Hormuz tolls suggests he is struggling to end Iran war
President Trump has abruptly reversed a proposal to charge tolls on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, opting instead to pursue trade deals with Gulf allies. The move highlights the ongoing difficulty of resolving the US-Iran conflict, which experts describe as a protracted war of attrition.
Why it matters
The policy flip-flop underscores the volatility of US foreign policy in the Middle East and the challenges of de-escalating long-term geopolitical tensions.
Image source, Getty Images By Anthony Zurcher , North America correspondent and Kayla Epstein Published Donald Trump's latest Iran War demand lasted all of 24 hours – and suggests a president searching for unorthodox ways out of a difficult position.
On Monday morning, in a social media post announcing the resumption of an American naval blockade on Iranian shipping, he said that all vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz – including those of US allies - must pay a 20% fee to reimburse the US "for any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security to this very volatile section of the world".
The following day, he abandoned that proposal completely , external , offering instead that he would strike "trade and investment deals" with America's Gulf allies, implying the US would offer them safe passage through the Strait in return.
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