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Trump Rejects Hormuz Tolls, Says US Could Take 'Very Drastic' Steps if Iran Talks Fail

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US President Donald Trump said Thursday that the US was against a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz, and reiterated that the administration will stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons through diplomacy or other measures if necessary.

Trump made the remarks during an event with the Environmental Protection Agency at the White House.

Responding to a question about Iran's reported negotiations with Oman over Strait of Hormuz tolls, Trump said, "We're looking at it. They've had a relationship with them before, and we'll see."

"We don't want tolls... it's an international waterway," Trump added.

Trump said Iran currently loses about $500 million per day because of the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

"It sounds like a lot of money, but whether it's $500 million or $200 million or $300 million they're losing a lot of money," Trump said.

Discussing the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said US naval operations fully control shipping activity through the strategic waterway and prevent unauthorized vessel movements involving Iran.

"There hasn't been a ship that's been able to get through without our approval," Trump said, adding the blockade remains "100% effective."

The president said the administration plans to secure Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile and potentially destroy the material after obtaining control over it.

"We're going to either make sure they don't have a nuclear weapon, or we're going to have to do something very drastic," Trump said.

Trump warned an Iranian nuclear program could trigger broader regional instability and spread conflict beyond the Middle East into Europe and the US.

On gasoline prices, Trump reiterated his earlier comments that gasoline prices would plummet after the conflict. "When it ends, your gasoline prices will go down lower than they were before," Trump said.

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