Lula calls US plan for Hormuz fee 'piracy'

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 14: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Monday that plans by President Donald Trump to impose hefty fees on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz would turn the United States into a "pirate" state.

Trump vowed earlier to reinstate a blockade of Iran's ports on the strait and slap a levy of 20 percent on all cargo shipped through Hormuz in order to pay for keeping the narrow waterway open.

Tehran started blocking the key conduit for petroleum shipments after the US and Israel launched attacks in late February, which prompted Washington to stop the shipping to and from Iranian ports.

Those restrictions were eased after the two sides in June reached an interim agreement on ending the war, but Trump has vowed to snap them back after a fresh flare-up in fighting.�"AFP