Iran ready for deal if US offers ‘genuine’ agreement, Ghalibaf says

Persian Gulf countries would bear the vast majority of costs under Iran’s proposed toll system for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

The report said Iran is seeking to impose charges of up to $2 million per vessel, or about $1 per barrel of oil, in exchange for allowing passage through the strategic waterway.

Because most oil exports from the Gulf pass through the strait, countries such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates would shoulder between 80% and 95% of the total cost burden, the WSJ said, citing estimates from analysts.

The proposal would have only a limited effect on global oil prices but could cost Persian Gulf exporters billions of dollars annually, while raising concerns over the principle of free maritime navigation, according to the report.

Iran’s state media said on Friday the Islamic Republic’s delegation for talks in Islamabad includes several senior officials, among them Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other top security and economic figures.

According to the report, the delegation also includes Ali-Akbar Ahmadian, Kazem Gharibabadi and Ali Bagheri Kani, along with Central Bank Governor Abdolnasser Hemmati.

Only two ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, according to ship-tracking data from S&P Global Market Intelligence cited by NBC News.

The data showed that neither of the vessels were oil or gas tankers, marking a steep decline in traffic through the strategic waterway.

The report said daily transits have fallen in recent days compared with pre-war levels of around 130 to 160 ships, which typically carry oil, gas and other goods to global markets.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened “soon” and “one way or the other."

"They're militarily DEFEATED, and now we're going to open up the [Strait], with or without them. But that WILL be open," Trump said to reporter before boarding Air Force One.

The United States is deploying more military forces to the Middle East ahead of planned talks with Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

The report said the buildup includes additional troops and military assets positioned for possible operations, as Washington pursues diplomacy while maintaining pressure on Tehran.

"US deployments in recent weeks have included Marines, warships and other assets, part of a broader reinforcement of its regional presence," the report added.