Brazil's Lula calls Trump's plan to impose fees on ships at Hormuz 'piracy'

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has condemned a plan by former U.S. President Donald Trump to impose a 20 percent levy on all cargo shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, calling it "piracy." Trump had earlier vowed to reinstate a blockade of Iran's ports on the strait and slap the fee on ships to pay for keeping the waterway open, according to AFP.

Tehran began blocking the key conduit for petroleum shipments after the United States and Israel launched attacks in late February. Speaking at a public event in São Paulo state, Lula said: "President Trump tweeted that he will unblock the Strait of Hormuz. But for every ship unblocked, every ship removed from the strait, the oil owner must pay him 20 percent."

"This used to be considered piracy," Lula said. "A major nation like the United States, which I believe has fought against piracy for a long time, cannot now become a pirate," he added. The Brazilian leader warned that the conflict was driving up the prices of basic foodstuffs in Brazil, including beans, rice, tomatoes and onions, as well as fuel.

Lula, an 80-year-old veteran leftist leader, is seeking a fourth term as president in October elections. His government has announced a range of temporary measures to limit fuel price increases after the war against Iran caused global oil prices to surge. According to the Mehr News Agency, Lula's comments highlight growing international criticism of Trump's aggressive stance on Iran and its impact on global markets.