【Trump: Could Establish U.S.-Iran Joint Venture to Collect Fees for Strait of Hormuz Passage】

Jonathan Karl, chief correspondent in Washington for ABC News, reported that Trump is not ruling out the creation of a U.S.-Iran joint venture responsible for collecting passage fees from ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

"This morning I asked President Trump whether he opposed imposing passage fees on all vessels traveling from the Iranian direction through the Strait of Hormuz."

Trump responded by saying there could be a U.S.-Iran joint enterprise to collect these fees: "We're considering implementing this through a joint venture. It's a way to ensure security — including protection of the strait from interference by other external parties. It's a great idea."

Micro-commentary

1. Completely overturning traditional strait passage rules

The Strait of Hormuz has historically been an international vital maritime route, operating under the principle of free navigation. A U.S.-Iran joint fee collection arrangement effectively commercializes and co-manages an international waterway — an unprecedented arrangement.

2. Trump’s logic: Security for revenue

The U.S. rationale is that a jointly managed, jointly taxed system would deliver economic benefits to Iran while allowing the United States to maintain control over security, thus stabilizing the strait and de-escalating conflict.

3. A major geopolitical victory for Iran

This would amount to the U.S. recognizing Iran’s core control over the strait, formalized through institutional means. Iran would not only gain security assurances but also secure, stable income.

4. Significant controversy and risks

This would effectively mean Gulf oil exports are subject to a "tax" by the U.S. and Iran; it raises clear legal issues under international law; if implemented, global oil prices and shipping costs would be directly affected.

In short, this is not merely a ceasefire — it's Trump attempting to resolve a long-standing geopolitical deadlock using a business partnership model. The idea is extreme, but if realized, it would completely rewrite the Middle East’s geopolitical landscape.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861916935815168/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.