One phone call followed another, kings and emirs urgently asked to speak with Donald Trump, while in the White House the president's associates were taken by surprise.
In less than 24 hours, his proposal to impose a 20% toll on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz collapsed, following intense pressure from the US's Arab allies and internal reactions in Washington.
From Truth Social to immediate retreat
On Monday morning, Donald Trump announced via Truth Social that the United States will take on the role of "Guardian of the Strait of Hormuz" and impose a 20% fee on any cargo passing through the strategically important crossing.
The announcement came as a shock not only to markets and Washington's allies in the Gulf, but also to many White House officials, who, according to CNN, had not been informed of the plan in advance.
Chaos in the White House
According to the American network, immediately after the announcement, a race began to answer key questions.
Who would pay the fee? The shipping companies? The Gulf countries? By what mechanism would the collection take place? And above all, how could an unprecedented measure be implemented on an international maritime route?
The confusion grew when Trump himself later hinted that the cost would be borne by the Arab countries of the Gulf.
The phone barrage from Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Manama
At the same time, the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain engaged in a coordinated diplomatic effort to prevent the implementation of the plan.
Their goal was to personally contact the American president and persuade him to abandon the idea, warning of the consequences it would have on both energy markets and Washington's relations with its key allies in the region.
The objections of his own associates - The reaction was not limited to US allies.
According to CNN, top Trump advisers have been warning for months that such a move would undermine the very goals of U.S. policy toward Iran.
One of their main arguments was that the US had repeatedly declared illegal any attempt to impose transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz. If Washington did exactly the same, its main legal and political argument would collapse.
It is no coincidence that at the end of June, Foreign Minister Marco Rubio had stated that "no country is allowed to impose tolls or fees on an international sea route", citing international law.
Iran hastened to... agree
These fears were confirmed almost immediately.
Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, capitalized on Trump's position, stating that the US president "is absolutely right" and that anyone who guarantees safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz should be compensated.
In fact, he ironically commented that 20% is excessive, adding that "we will be fairer".
Folding in one day
By Tuesday morning, Trump had already changed his stance.
He announced that the Gulf countries had pledged to increase their investments in the United States and called this solution preferable to the imposition of tolls.
"I spoke to kings, emirs and leaders we all know. They told me that they would prefer us to do it in a different way," the US president said, putting an end to a plan that lived only twenty-four hours, but revealed once again how unpredictable US foreign policy can be shaped under Donald Trump.
naftemporiki.gr
