President Donald Trump has declared that there will be no tolls charged for passage through the Strait of Hormuz during the current 60-day ceasefire period with Iran, and none afterward unless imposed by the United States if a final deal is not reached. The announcement reinforces the terms of last week’s fragile truce while pushing back against Iranian claims that the waterway has been closed.

Trump’s statement, posted to Truth Social, comes amid heightened tensions following Iran’s Friday announcement that it was closing the strait in response to Israeli strikes in Lebanon, which Tehran views as violations of the June 17 memorandum.

The declaration directly addresses one of the most strategically sensitive elements of the interim agreement and is aimed at reassuring global energy markets that the critical chokepoint, through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil passes, remains open and toll-free under the current ceasefire framework.

From Operation Epic Fury to the Islamabad MoU

The current diplomatic phase follows a four-month conflict that erupted in late February 2026 with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets under Operation Epic Fury. Iran responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz and launching missile and drone attacks, disrupting global energy flows.

On June 17, President Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed the 14-point Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signing as mediator. The deal mandates an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to toll-free shipping, the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports, waivers on certain oil sanctions, and a 60-day timeline for further negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program alongside a proposed reconstruction framework.

Iran’s closure claim versus facts on the ground

Despite the MoU’s clear provisions for toll-free access, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on Friday that it was again closing the strait, citing continued Israeli military action in southern Lebanon as a breach of the ceasefire.

U.S. Central Command immediately pushed back with concrete data. In a public release on June 20, CENTCOM confirmed that safe passage through the international waterway remained intact, and that commercial ship traffic had increased that day, with 55 merchant ships transiting safely.

CENTCOM emphasized that U.S. forces remain present and vigilant to ensure adherence to the agreement, and noted that the Joint Maritime Information Center had issued an advisory affirming a safe southern route along Oman’s coast, free of arbitrary impediments.

Technical talks continue in Switzerland

The Hormuz issue is now front and center as technical-level implementation talks between U.S. and Iranian delegations get underway today in Bürgenstock, Switzerland. Vice President JD Vance arrived overnight to lead the American side, joined by special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Pakistan and Qatar are serving as mediators.

Vance has expressed cautious optimism about making progress on both the nuclear file and the Lebanon ceasefire track during his short visit. The talks aim to convert the interim MoU into verifiable steps before the 60-day window closes.

Strategic and global implications

Trump’s firm stance on tolls serves multiple purposes: it reassures oil-importing nations and shipping companies, undercuts Iranian attempts to leverage the strait for political gain, and keeps pressure on Tehran to comply fully with the ceasefire terms. It also positions the United States as the guarantor of freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most critical energy arteries.

For global markets, the combination of Trump’s declaration and CENTCOM’s confirmation of open passage provides short-term stability after weeks of volatility. Oil prices have reacted to the mixed signals from Iran’s closure announcement versus the on-the-ground reality of increased traffic.

Pakistan’s role as a trusted mediator in both the original Islamabad breakthrough and the current Switzerland round continues to draw international attention as a constructive diplomatic actor helping stabilize a volatile region.

Outlook

The coming days in Switzerland will be critical. Success in translating the MoU into concrete implementation on nuclear issues, sanctions relief, and regional de-escalation, particularly in Lebanon, could lock in the toll-free status of the Strait of Hormuz on a more permanent basis. Any renewed violations or failure to advance talks risk rapid re-escalation and the potential return of U.S.-imposed measures.

President Trump’s message remains clear: the United States will not allow Iran, or any other party, to impose unilateral tolls or closures during this ceasefire window. The waterway remains open, and the diplomatic process continues.