"Trump Considers 'VIP Pass' for Hormuz... Paid U.S. Navy Escort Proposed"

Fee to Be Charged for Expedited Military Escort Services

Sharing Security Burden with Europe... "More Active Engagement Needed"

As the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump discusses ways to resume oil tanker operations in the Strait of Hormuz, Politico reported on the 16th (local time) that a so-called "VIP pass" system, which would involve paid U.S. Navy escorts, is being considered.

According to two energy industry sources familiar with the discussions, President Trump and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles have instructed aides to devise measures to persuade shipowners to accept the risks of transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Since, with few exceptions, passage through the Strait of Hormuz currently violates most insurance policies, the current talks are focused on convincing insurers to provide coverage.

Ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters Yonhap News

One source explained, "There is discussion of a system where, like a VIP pass, shipowners would pay the U.S. for expedited escorted passage," adding, "The idea is to charge a fee for expedited transit services, including military escorts."

This approach is also meant to encourage European allies to share the security burden. A former U.S. administration official said that the United States should not have to shoulder all the patrol responsibilities near the Strait of Hormuz. He noted, "The discussion about charging fees to oil tankers is a negotiation tactic aimed at pressuring European countries to become more involved in the Middle East, timed to coincide with the G7 summit currently underway in France." He added, "If the strait is blocked again or an agreement collapses and military action becomes necessary, European navies will also be on site."

Back in April, President Trump suggested that it should be the United States, not Iran, charging passage fees to ships transiting the strait. Speaking to reporters, he said, "Rather than letting Iran collect the fees, I would rather we collect them."

Other ideas are also on the table. There is a growing view that leveraging the Defense Production Act (DPA) to require U.S. insurers to provide coverage for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz may be a more realistic option.

However, these discussions are still ongoing, and no measures have been finalized. The United States and Iran are scheduled to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end hostilities on the 19th, but shipowners remain hesitant to operate due to concerns that tensions could flare up again. According to commodity analytics firm Kpler, nearly 500 ships, including about 220 oil tankers, are currently waiting in the Persian Gulf outside the Strait of Hormuz.

With the U.S. and Iran initiating peace talks, international oil prices fell below $80 per barrel on this day, but they remain higher than pre-war levels. On the 14th, President Trump urged shipowners to deploy oil tankers, announcing approval for open and toll-free passage through the Strait of Hormuz; however, few companies have responded to this call.

White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers stated, "Thanks to the excellent MOU signed by President Trump, the Strait of Hormuz will be fully open," adding, "The Trump administration expects energy transport to return to pre-Operation Epic Fury levels as soon as possible. Reports citing anonymous sources should be regarded as unfounded speculation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.