Gulf States Signal Alarm as Trump Suggests Joint U.S.-Iran Toll Venture for Strait of Hormuz

Gulf nations worry a 2026 U.S.-Iran truce could grant Tehran permanent control over the Strait of Hormuz, following Trump’s "joint venture" toll suggestion.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 9, 2026, 7:51 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Al Jazeera

A Fragile Truce Amidst Strategic Uncertainty

The Middle East entered a period of cautious suspension on April 8, 2026, following a two-week ceasefire agreement between Washington and Tehran. The deal, brokered by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, narrowly averted a massive U.S. strike on Iranian infrastructure after President Donald Trump’s ultimatum regarding the Strait of Hormuz expired. While the truce has temporarily halted direct hostilities, Gulf capitals remain on high alert, fearing that the upcoming negotiations in Islamabad could result in a permanent shift in the regional balance of power.

The Toll Proposal and Sovereign Anxiety

A startling development emerged early Wednesday when President Trump floated the idea of a "joint venture" between the U.S. and Iran to collect transit tolls from vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Describing the concept as a "beautiful thing" to secure the waterway, the proposal was met with immediate pushback from Gulf allies who rely on the strait for 20 percent of the world’s liquefied natural gas and oil shipments. Regional analysts suggest that any move to formalize Iranian fee collection would effectively recognize Tehran’s sovereign control over international waters, a precedent the GCC has fought to prevent for decades.

Iran’s Ten-Point Plan and the Command of the Seas

Tehran has entered the ceasefire period from a position of perceived strength, insisting on a 10-point peace plan that includes continued military coordination of maritime traffic. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi clarified that safe passage during the two-week window would only be possible "in coordination" with the Iranian armed forces. This demand directly challenges the U.S. Navy's long-standing role as the guarantor of free navigation in the Gulf and has prompted Bahrain to sponsor a UN Security Council resolution seeking international authorization for defensive missions to keep the arteries of global commerce open.