By Mukesh 
The EU said on Thursday (April 9, 2026) that freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must be ensured with “no payment or toll whatsoever”, after Iran suggested it could charge for letting ships through.
A full reopening of the vital Gulf waterway remains a key point of contention as talks are due to start after Iran and the United States announced a two-week ceasefire following over a month of hostilities.