Iran to Impose Toll on Ships Through Strait of Hormuz

Iran's parliament has approved a bill to charge a toll to ships passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil circulates. 'We are seeking a bill that legally recognizes Iran's sovereignty, domain, and supervision over the Strait of Hormuz, and that also generates a source of income for the country by charging a toll,' said the head of the parliament's civil affairs committee, Mohamad Reza Rezaei Kochi, according to the Tasnim agency. With this measure, Iran is increasing pressure on the Strait of Hormuz while seeking a peace agreement with the United States, according to Donald Trump. Trump claims Iran 'wants to make a deal' U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that Iran wants to reach an agreement but denies it out of fear of 'being killed by their own people' and that they also fear being 'killed' by the United States. Trump insisted that the Islamic Republic wishes to reach an agreement but, out of fear of being killed, they deny it publicly, during the annual dinner of the Republican National Committee of Congress, held at Union Station in Washington. 'They fear being killed by their own people' and 'they also fear being killed by us,' the head of state specified. Trump's statement came after Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, affirmed that the exchange of messages with Washington through mediators 'does not mean negotiations with the United States'. On Wednesday, Iran reportedly rejected a 15-point proposal presented by the United States to end the war, considering it excessive. Tehran seeks to put its own conditions on the table, including the recognition that they have sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and that the damage to its country's infrastructure is repaired. During his speech, Trump complained about the media coverage of the war because various reports and analyses have been published that question his triumphant view of the conflict, which has been going on for almost a month. Iran's war enters its fourth week after the escalation that began on February 28 with coordinated attacks by the United States and Israel on Iranian soil. In response, Iran has launched waves of missiles and drones against Israel and strategic targets in the Gulf, in addition to maintaining a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the global crude supply passes.