Topline

President Donald Trump insisted Wednesday Iran won’t charge ships for traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, blaming the “troublemaking Fake News” for reporting on Iran’s plan to impose fees for “services” provided to passing ships.

Trump said “Iran has informed the U.S.” there are no tolls, insurance costs or charges of any kind being imposed on vessels navigating the strait, warning that “if this is false information, negotiations would end, immediately!”

The memorandum of understanding between Iran and the U.S. says Iran “will make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days only from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and vice versa.”

The agreement left open the possibility it could impose tolls after the 60-day period to negotiate a permanent deal.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghei said earlier this month Iran could still charge fees “in exchange for the services that are provided” to ships transiting the strait.

Trump also said “no money has been given to Iran,” nor have any of their frozen funds been released to them.

Lifting sanctions and allowing Iran to access private funding to rebuild its infrastructure and seed its economy are also part of the agreement, contingent on Iran meeting its end of the deal.