The Strait of Hormuz has been opened, and Iran has begun to act as its policeman, controlling maritime traffic and speaking of levying fees. The White House denies this, insisting there are no tolls and that Iran had pledged as such, threatening the return of US warships anchored near the Gulf. It appears one of the two parties is not telling the truth, or we are facing ambiguity due to differing interpretations of the agreement. Even if Iran does not collect a single dollar in tolls, its control over the strait grants it extremely dangerous political authority.

Iran and the U.S. both threatened to tax ships crossing the world's most critical oil chokepoint — an action experts say violates international law.

Trump said Tehran had promised no tolls or charges in the strait, hours after Iran and Oman announced a joint permit system asserting their authority over the waterway. Rubio flew…