Brazilian President Lula Condemns U.S. “Hormuz Tariff” Proposal, Calls It Piracy

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva denounced a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump to levy fees on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, labeling the plan as piracy.

At a public gathering in São Paulo on Monday, Lula remarked that such a move would have been regarded as piracy in earlier times.

He added that while the United States has a long history of combating piracy, it should not behave like a pirate today.

His remarks followed Trump’s announcement to impose a 20% tariff on goods moving through the Strait of Hormuz and to reinstate a naval blockade against Iran.

Trump said the policy responds to Iran’s threat to shut the vital waterway, asserting that the United States will guarantee free navigation and that commercial vessels benefiting from this security should help fund it.

On Truth Social, Trump posted: “The Strait of Hormuz will stay open, with or without Iran. We will reinstate the blockade on Iran.”

The proposed tariff has attracted worldwide attention, as the Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime corridor handling a large portion of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports. Alterations to shipping arrangements or transit costs could significantly affect international trade and energy markets.

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