Media Reports: Washington Offered Tehran Unfrozen Assets in Exchange for Dropping Hormuz Fees

Media reports indicate that the United States offered Iran a proposal to abandon its plans to impose transit fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, in exchange for the release of a portion of Iran's frozen assets. These reports highlight that the U.S. President's Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, and former U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, visited Doha earlier this week. Their visit aimed to discuss with Qatari mediators ways to break the stalemate in ongoing negotiations. According to the information, Washington suggested Tehran forgo claims of full control over the strait and stop levying fees on vessels, in return for freeing part of its frozen assets abroad, estimated at a total of $100 billion. Iran, however, rejected the offer, affirming its right to control the Strait of Hormuz. Furthermore, its military forces threatened strict measures against any ships sailing outside routes approved by Tehran's authorities.