President Donald Trump has dropped his plan to impose a toll on the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping route, after a 24-hour sprint by his aides and international leaders to convince him to reverse course. The abrupt announcement on Monday sparked an international scramble, with Gulf allies and Trump’s own advisers warning that the move would undermine US war aims and validate Iran’s plans to charge fees in the strait.

International Pressure

Leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Qatar worked frantically to get Trump on the phone to talk him out of the idea. By Tuesday morning, the flurry of appeals had succeeded, with Trump announcing that the countries had pledged to pour new investments into the US instead of paying tolls.

The Gulf nations have already committed to invest trillions of dollars into the US, although it remains unclear how much of that they will actually spend over the next several years. Trump’s decision to drop the toll plan comes as the US is engaged in a prolonged war with Iran, with the president insisting that access to the Strait of Hormuz remains free and open.

Background

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway for international shipping, and the US has long maintained that it should remain free and open to all nations. Trump’s initial plan to impose a toll on the strait sparked concerns that it would contradict existing international law and undermine US war aims. The president’s aides and international leaders warned that the move would only push oil and gas prices higher, adding to the political pressure on Republicans ahead of the midterm elections.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.