(L) A police speed boat patrols the port on March 30, 2026 in Muscat, Oman. (Photo by Elke Scholiers/Getty Images) / (Background) US President Donald Trump on April 6, 2026, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)
OAN Staff Addie Davis 10:12 AM – Friday, April 10, 2026
President Donald Trump warned Iran over reports that the Middle Eastern nation is charging tankers fees to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
“There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait,” the president posted to Truth Social on Thursday.
“They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!” he warned.
“There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait — They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!” – President DONALD J. TRUMP pic.twitter.com/wJIXNJ8z2Q
Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the Speaker of Iran’s Parliament, also declared on Friday that negotiations with the U.S. will not proceed without a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of frozen Iranian assets.
Writing on X, Qalibaf stated that two measures “mutually agreed upon between the parties have yet to be implemented.” He insisted on these preconditions for future diplomacy, stating, “These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin.”
The demand comes amid a ceasefire established on Tuesday, intended to pause the military hostilities that erupted following a joint U.S.-Israeli strike on February 28th. In the wake of that attack, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz and launched retaliatory strikes against allies in the Persian Gulf.
However, the truce was strained by mutual allegations of bad faith. While Tehran insists the agreement covers the conflict in Lebanon — where Israel continues its campaign against Hezbollah — the Trump administration has dismissed those claims, asserting the deal’s scope is more limited.
“Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable, some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have!” Trump asserted back on Thursday.
Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have! President DONALD J. TRUMP
— Commentary: Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) April 10, 2026
The Strait of Hormuz traffics roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas, and its effective closure following the outbreak of the conflict has made global shockwaves.
According to Bloomberg, more than 800 freighters are stuck inside the Persian Gulf, most waiting to leave, with only three ships exiting the region on Wednesday despite usual daily crossings of around 135 vessels in normal conditions.
The outlet explained owners and insurer groups warned that more information is needed to determine if transit is safe. In a post earlier this week, Trump said the U.S. would help with the buildup of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
A big day for World Peace! Iran wants it to happen, they’ve had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else! The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz. There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran can start the…
— Commentary: Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) April 8, 2026
Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner will also be heading to Pakistan’s capital city to engage in negotiations with Iran this weekend.
“As the president of the United States said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand. If they’re going to try to play us, then they’re going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive,” Vance said to reporters before boarding a plane to Islamabad.
“We’re trying to have a positive negotiation. The president gave us some pretty clear guidelines, and we’re going to see,” he continued.
.@VP departs for Islamabad, Pakistan: “As @POTUS said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand. If they’re going to try to play us, then they’re going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive.” pic.twitter.com/9nNDGsMmId
