Trump threatens to charge US tolls in Strait of Hormuz if deal not reached in 60 days
Iran said it was closing the Strait of Hormuz because of Israeli attacks on Lebanon and warned that nothing much was likely to happen if the fighting did not stop, as negotiators headed to Switzerland to discuss an interim deal with the United States.
In response, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose US tolls on the critical waterway if a final deal is not reached with Iran within 60 days, saying the money would be for “services provided as a Guardian Angel to Middle Eastern countries.” In the social media post, it was underlined that the agreement requires free travel for 60 days.
The announcements suggest a rough start to technical-level US-Iran talks that key mediator Pakistan has said will begin on Sunday and will be attended by mediators from Qatar.
Iran’s joint military command said the strait was closed because the United States “clearly violated its commitments” by not ending the war. The interim agreement means a cessation of hostilities on all fronts.
Shortly thereafter, Iranian state television announced that the negotiating team was leaving for Switzerland, which was postponed from Friday. State media said the team included Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and central bank and oil officials, among others. The agreement calls for the lifting of the freeze on Iran’s assets.
The USA objected to Iran’s statement regarding the strait.
“Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz. Traffic continues to flow and U.S. forces are monitoring the situation to ensure it remains that way,” said Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command. The military said 55 commercial ships transited with more than 17 million barrels of oil on Saturday.
As uncertainty increases, Iranian delegation heads to talks
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said negotiations on the final agreement will begin after basic commitments are met. Otherwise, “the memorandum of understanding as a whole will be in jeopardy.”
US Vice President J.D. Vance confirmed that top negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are in Switzerland and working on technical details of expected talks on Iran’s nuclear program. The interim agreement gives negotiators 60 days to reach a nuclear deal, but that period could be extended.
Vance told Fox News he expects to travel to Switzerland “within the next few days.”
As part of efforts to revive direct talks, Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Araghchi in Tehran early Saturday (local time), according to officials in Islamabad who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.
Ships began transiting following the interim US-Iran agreement signed at the beginning of the week; This was a turning point that left many questions unanswered. The US lifted the blockade of Iranian ports and now allows Tehran to sell its oil freely; These conditions led some in the US Congress to question whether the war was worth it.
At least 16 people died in Israeli attacks in Lebanon
A Hezbollah official told The Associated Press that Iran had informed the militant group that Tehran would not reopen the strait until Israel publicly announced it would abide by a “comprehensive ceasefire” in Lebanon and end military operations there. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.
The official said that if Israel accepts a ceasefire, Hezbollah will also commit to a ceasefire.
An Israeli military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, later said the army had received “updated instructions from the political echelon to cease fire.” The official said the military operates in Lebanon for defensive purposes, which includes the right to respond to Hezbollah attacks.
The official also said five Israeli soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon in the last 48 hours.
Previously, at least 16 people, including two children, were killed in Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon, hours after news emerged that a ceasefire agreement had been reached there. Lebanon’s National News Agency said seven people were trapped under the rubble following the attacks on the southern city of Nabatiyeh and surrounding villages.
Lebanon’s health ministry later announced that the death toll in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war had exceeded 4,000.
Hezbollah fired more than 50 shells at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon overnight, an Israeli military official said. The Israeli military said it shot dozens of Hezbollah targets and militants.
On Friday, Israeli Ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter said Israel would “strictly adhere to the immediate ceasefire” if Hezbollah complies with the agreement and ceases hostilities.
Earlier on Saturday, Hezbollah said it was committed to a ceasefire, but accused Israel of violating the ceasefire on Friday night and said it would repel attacks by Israeli soldiers.
Conflict could sink US-Iran deal
Neither Israel nor Hezbollah signs the agreement between the USA and Iran.
Hezbollah and Israel went to war two days after the United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran on February 28; Hezbollah fired rockets and drones into northern Israel, and Israel captured large areas of southern Lebanon.
A new round of US-backed talks between the Lebanese government and Israel is expected to be held in Washington next week.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to keep Israeli forces in southern Lebanon until any threat to Israel is eliminated. Hezbollah has refused to stop its attacks unless Israel commits to withdrawing from Lebanon.
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