WASHINGTON, April 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he is considering setting up a "joint venture" with Iran to charge tolls from vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

"We're thinking of doing it as a joint venture," Trump told ABC News. "It's a way of securing it -- also securing it from lots of other people. It's a beautiful thing," he said.

On Tuesday night, Trump wrote on Truth Social that "big money" could be made by the United States "helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz."

"We'll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just 'hangin' around' in order to make sure that everything goes well. I feel confident that it will," he said.

Trump suggested on Monday that Washington should charge tolls on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that reopening the waterway must be part of any deal to end the war with Iran.

"What about us charging tolls?" Trump told a White House press conference on Monday. "I'd rather do that than let them (Iranians) have them."  ■