U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iran has told American officials there are no charges being imposed on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States and Iran concluded a first round of negotiations in Switzerland on Monday. Since then, officials from both sides have presented differing versions of several elements tied to a broader framework agreement signed last week that is intended to bring an end to the war.
Those contested elements include whether financial incentives were part of the arrangement for Iran, which party would exercise control over movements through the Strait of Hormuz, and how Israel's parallel war in Lebanon fits into the framework - all items the two sides have described inconsistently.
"Iran has informed the U.S. that, despite troublemaking Fake News reporting to the contrary, there are 'NO TOLLS, NO INSURANCE COSTS, & NO OTHER CHARGES OF ANY KIND BEING SOUGHT OR RECEIVED BY IRAN ON SHIPS TRAVELING THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ'"
"If this is false information, negotiations would end, immediately!"
Trump posted the statement on a social media platform, framing it as a direct denial of reporting he described as inaccurate.
Domestically, the president has faced criticism over the framework deal. That pushback has included objections from hardliners within his own Republican Party.
Observers and policymakers are left navigating an environment where official accounts of what was agreed - or discussed - differ between the negotiating parties. The conflicting descriptions touch on matters that could affect maritime operations in the Strait of Hormuz as well as the terms of the broader framework designed to halt the fighting.
Details remain limited to the statements issued by the involved parties. Absent further clarification from the negotiators, public understanding of the precise commitments, if any, tied to financial or operational control in the region will continue to rely on the competing accounts put forward so far.
Summary
President Trump said Iran told U.S. officials it is not seeking tolls, insurance costs, or any other charges on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The comment follows a first round of talks in Switzerland that ended on Monday and comes amid conflicting accounts between the two countries about core aspects of a framework agreement signed last week. Trump warned negotiations would end immediately if the information proved false. He has also faced domestic criticism, including from hardliners in his party.