Trump says oil will flow ‘with or without’ Iran’s help, warns against tanker fees

The Iranian regime was reportedly planning to start charging $1 per barrel of oil, payable in cryptocurrency, according to the Financial Times. The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz has been a sticking point in negotiations between the United States and Iran, with Iran using it as leverage.

Reports that Iran closed the maritime channel on Wednesday threatened to derail talks entirely, as Trump has made clear its reopening was a critical element of a two-week ceasefire agreement.

“Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks,” Trump wrote on Truth Social announcing the ceasefire.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday a move to close the strait would be “completely unacceptable.”

IRAN TO CHARGE FEES AND COORDINATE SAFE PASSAGE THROUGH STRAIT OF HORMUZ AMID CEASEFIRE

But she also pushed back on claims that the strait had actually been shut, suggesting a gap between public rhetoric and private reality.

“Privately, we have seen an uptick of traffic in the Strait today, and I will reiterate the president’s expectation and demand that the Strait of Hormuz is reopened immediately, quickly, and safely,” Leavitt said. “That is his expectation. It has been relayed to him privately that that is what’s taking place, and these reports publicly are false.”