Lula says that Trump will practice 'piracy' if he charges taxes on cargo President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) stated this Monday (13) that President Donald Trump will practice "piracy" if the United States takes control of the Strait of Hormuz and starts charging a 20% tax on cargo transported by vessels passing through the area. The PT member's speech is a reaction to statements made by the North American, earlier this Monday, when Trump commented on the return of conflicts with Iran. In an interview with the American broadcaster Fox News, Trump said that the USA will be "the guardians of the strait" and that they should be "reimbursed" if they free the sea route. And, on Truth Social, the American president's network, he spoke about the tax he intends to introduce. During a visit to laboratories at the Mauá Institute of Technology, in São Paulo, Lula commented on the North American's statements. "Today, there's a tweet from Trump saying he's going to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, saying he's going to unblock it, but for each ship, the oil owner has to pay 20%," Lula introduced. "In the past, this was called piracy, an important state like the USA, fought piracy for a long time, don't become a pirate again now, you don't have to charge, it's their responsibility, it wasn't closed, it wasn't Brazil that invented the war, it was him [Trump] who invented the war", he added. Still regarding Trump's statement, Lula classified it as "abnormal" for someone to want to "make money from misfortune." "It is very delicate for us to realize that the USA is provoking a war and, now, they are starting to charge for the ship that is going to cross for its safety. It is not common, normal, democratic. It is abnormal, making money based on misfortune", declared the Brazilian president. ? The Strait of Hormuz is a maritime corridor about 50 kilometers wide that connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean. Before the war, around 20% of all oil and gas traded in the world passed through the area. Lula also defended the national production of biodiesel, stating that he will not charge extra rates from foreign countries that want to buy the fuel. "We are not going to charge anything, just the fair price for biodiesel", concluded Lula. President Lula during a visit to the Mauá Institute of Technology, in São Paulo Reproduction/Lula Question of 'Justice', said Trump Trump's speech this Monday contrasts with statements he made in June, saying that there would be no toll charge in the Strait of Hormuz. "The Strait of Hormuz is open and will remain open, with or without Iran. We are reinstating the Iranian blockade, so named because it only prevents the entry and exit of Iranian ships or customers," he wrote in Truth Social. "All other countries will have free and unrestricted use of the Strait. The USA will, from this moment on, be known as 'the guardian of the Strait of Hormuz', but as such, and as a matter of JUSTICE, will be reimbursed 20% of all cargo transported, for all costs necessary to guarantee the security of this very unstable region of the world", added Trump. Iran responds The US president's statement was immediately refuted by Iran's military command, which stated that it "will not allow the US to intervene in the administration" of Hormuz. "Iran will not allow the US to intervene in the administration of the Strait of Hormuz. Any attempt by the US to transit through the strait without Iranian authorization will be strongly contested", states a statement, which also carries a warning to neighboring countries: "To the leaders of countries in the region, any cooperation with the US will be considered war against Iran". The presidents of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and of the United States, Donald Trump. Pablo Porciúncula and Andrew Caballero-Reynoldos/ AFP via Getty Images