Trump calls Hormuz Strait toll ‘a beautiful thing’, proposes joint venture with Iran

Following his announcement of a 14-day conditional ceasefire with Iran, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday proposed a “joint venture” with Tehran to safeguard the Strait of Hormuz.

“We’re thinking of doing it as a joint venture. It’s a way of securing it — also securing it from lots of other people,” Trump told ABC News.

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When asked if he would allow Iran to charge a toll from ships sailing through the Strait of Hormuz, the US President said, “It’s a beautiful thing.”

The US and Iran have announced a two-week truce in their war. Both countries will engage in further negotiations to seek a complete end to the conflict.

The delegations of the US and Iran are also set to begin direct talks in Islamabad on Friday, April 10.

While Iran also agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, reports claim the IRGC Navy Station has told ships to seek prior permission before sailing through the chokepoint waterway.

According to BBC, the IRGC Navy has sent the following message to ships in the Gulf region: “Attention all vessels. Attention all vessels. Attention all vessels in Persian Gulf and Oman Sea. This is the IRGC Navy Station. Transiting the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and you need permission from the IRGC before sailing through the strait. Any vessel trying to travel into the sea will be targeted and destroyed.”

Earlier in the day, Iran warned it could rise up in “full-scale defence” at any moment as Israel continued to pound Lebanon.

“Iran could rise up in full-scale defense at any moment as the Israeli regime is resorting to violation of a fragile and temporary ceasefire,” a senior security official warned, according to state media.

The official further accused Israel of destabilising the fragile ceasefire reached earlier today. Israel, on the other hand, has reportedly claimed that stopping attacks on Lebanon was not part of the ceasefire proposal.