Story perspectives

Iran to Secure Strait, Charge $2 M; Trump Mulls Reopen

5/1/2026

Summary

Iran Secures Strait

On April 30, 2026, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Iran will secure Gulf and Strait of Hormuz with frameworks, ending U.S. presence after the Feb. 28 war.
He said Iran charges $2 million per ship to transit the strait, a fee the United Arab Emirates calls piracy.
U.S. President Donald Trump proposed reopening the strait while keeping a blockade, noting April 8 ceasefire has cost U.S. $25 billion and lifted Brent to $126 a barrel.

Summary

Iran Controls Strait

Iranian navy conducted Smart Control of Hormuz Strait drills, restricting vessel traffic using Abu Musa and the Tunb islands.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Omani leaders in Muscat to discuss an administrative split of the strait.
Iran’s toll system will accept rial, yuan, dollar and euro via four new Central Bank accounts.
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders called the island outposts “impregnable fortresses,” signaling smart control of traffic.

History

Historical Context

In July 1987 the United States began Operation Earnest Will, escorting 11 Kuwaiti-owned tankers re-flagged as American ships through the Persian Gulf amid the Iran-Iraq war. Iranian forces responded with a minefield that damaged the 414,266-ton tanker Bridgeton, prompting the deployment of special-operations units and mobile sea bases. Decades later Iranian officials have revived toll demands on Gulf vessels, echoing the 1987 tug-of-war over Hormuz traffic.

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Iran Secures Strait

On April 30, 2026, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Iran will secure Gulf and Strait of Hormuz with frameworks, ending U.S. presence after the Feb. 28 war.
He said Iran charges $2 million per ship to transit the strait, a fee the United Arab Emirates calls piracy.
U.S. President Donald Trump proposed reopening the strait while keeping a blockade, noting April 8 ceasefire has cost U.S. $25 billion and lifted Brent to $126 a barrel.

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