Trump says tankers leaving Strait of Hormuz on safe lane as Vance promises fee-free passage, Iran demands service charges
Vessels loaded with crude oil have begun departing the Strait of Hormuz, President Trump said Monday, as Washington and Tehran offered conflicting accounts of the terms governing the waterway’s reopening.
Shipping resumes through Hormuz
President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social on 15 June that ships, including many oil tankers, had started leaving the Strait of Hormuz. He described the southern route, passing closer to the coast of Oman, as a completely safe and secured corridor. According to earlier information, the US military had already been secretly guiding tankers through that lane before the preliminary agreement with Iran. Trump previously stated that 100 million barrels of oil reached the market this way.
Ships are starting to leave the Strait of Hormuz, many loaded with oil. They are sailing the southern ‘highway’ which is completely safe, secured and pristine. There are also other travel routes!!!
Iran’s service fee claims
The same day, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai told media that Iran will collect fees from vessels transiting the strait, but only for maritime services, not for passage itself. The distinction matters in the public messaging battle over the deal.
We have always maintained that we are not seeking to collect transit fees, but that fees will be charged for navigation services, environmental protection, ship insurance and other essential services.
Vice President J.D. Vance, in a CNBC interview, rejected the notion of any transit fees and said Washington expects the strait to remain open without charges in the long term.
We expect the strait to be opened in the long-term horizon without fees, and that is exactly what we will settle in these technical negotiations.
Negotiating framework and leverage
Vance acknowledged that many details still need to be settled over the coming 60 days, most critically the disposal of Iran’s stockpiles of enriched uranium. He insisted the United States holds the advantage, having weakened Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure during the preceding conflict.
Their army is destroyed, the Strait of Hormuz is open, their nuclear program is destroyed, and we have an incredible economic advantage over them that we did not have a year and a half ago. We have all the cards.
The preliminary agreement also involves lifting the US blockade of Iranian ports and, according to Baghai, American commitments to pay war reparations and release frozen Iranian assets abroad.
Oil market and regional reaction
Brent crude fell roughly 5 percent to $83 a barrel after the outline of the deal emerged. Israel has voiced alarm, with some political figures warning the arrangement will not prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Vance countered that Israeli critics are falling victim to Iranian disinformation, claiming state media outlets are falsifying the terms to sell the deal domestically.
It is interesting that Iranian state media — sometimes hardline elements — are targeting a domestic audience and trying to sell the agreement, and frankly, falsifying it in the process. And then certain Israeli media outlets pick that up.
A signing ceremony is expected in Switzerland, with Iranian parliament speaker Mohammed Ghalibaf attending.
