Speaking at an event in Sao Caetano do Sul in Sao Paulo state on Monday, Lula questioned Trump's plan to impose a fee equal to 20 per cent of a cargo's value on vessels receiving US military support while crossing the strategic waterway.

"He posted a tweet saying that <...> for every ship he unblocks, that he gets out of the strait, the owner of the oil will have to pay him 20 per cent. Before, that was called piracy. Isn't that right? <...> So, an important state like the United States , which for a long time I believe fought piracy, cannot now become a pirate. In other words, it has no reason to charge, because the Strait of Hormuz is not their responsibility," Lula said.

The Brazilian president argued that the Strait of Hormuz remained open before the latest conflict between the United States and Iran and challenged Washington's justification for military action.

" Brazil was not the one that invented this war. So, we cannot accept that a war provoked by the United States, saying that Iran wanted to build a nuclear weapon... I can say that this is a lie, because I was in Iran in 2010. I was there together with Ahmadineyad [former president of Iran] and with the president of Turkey, signing a document in which Iran committed not to produce nuclear weapons," he said.

Lula compared the current situation with the 2003 invasion of Iraq, arguing that the United States had used similar claims about weapons of mass destruction before launching military action.

He also warned that the conflict was affecting Brazil's economy, saying prices of products such as rice, tomatoes and onions had risen. Lula added that his government was working to limit fuel price increases during the crisis, including through a 12 per cent tax on oil exports.

The comments came after renewed fighting in the Middle East. Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to all ships, while the United States responded by imposing a blockade on Iranian ports.

“For the first time, I am going to include the issue of national defence in a government programme so that we can make a public commitment,” he said.

Lula stressed that Brazil has no intention of threatening other countries but said it could not afford to be unprepared.

He questioned the commitment of major powers to nuclear disarmament and pointed to military expansion by countries including Pakistan, India, China and the United States .

“It is full of madmen in the world. Right now, the president of the United States wants to keep Greenland and says that Canada is going to become a state. He wants to take the Panama Canal,” Lula said.

The president added that Brazil should recognise its size and strategic importance within Latin America .

He said he did not want war but also did not want Brazil “to be caught by surprise.”

Lula is seeking re-election in October and is expected to face right-wing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro. National security has emerged as a key issue in the campaign, with Bolsonaro focusing his proposals on tougher measures against organised crime and drug trafficking.

“Who does Brazil have that is good at football now?” Lula asked the audience.

A young boy responded: “Neymar.”

“Neymar isn't even playing, my friend. I saw something yesterday saying that Neymar is the world's first home-office call-up. Any day now we're going to have to make a national team with artificial intelligence ,” Lula said, drawing laughter from those in attendance.

The president’s comments came as Neymar remains sidelined with an injury sustained while playing for Santos FC in the Brazilian Championship on May 17.

The injury occurred one day before Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti named the 34-year-old forward in the squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Lula has made several remarks about Brazil’s national team during the tournament. Earlier, he urged players to approach matches with more “soul” and “grit”. He also joked that Brazil should try to convince Argentina captain Lionel Messi to play for the Seleção.

Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer, has struggled with injuries in recent years, limiting his appearances for both club and country. His absence has left Brazil without one of its most experienced players during the World Cup campaign. Brazil secured its first 3 points at the World Cup with a 3:0 win over Haiti after drawing its first game against Morocco.

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Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies is currently debating a controversial anti-gang bill that has ignited sharp political tensions across the country. The proposed legislation, which aims to strengthen criminal penalties and enhance the government’s ability to dismantle organised crime networks, has drawn criticism from the Federal Police and several government officials. Detractors argue that the bill could open the door to misuse of authority and may undermine civil rights protections. At the same time, supporters claim it is essential to address the growing threat of gang-related violence in major cities. The debate reflects the delicate balance between bolstering public safety and safeguarding democratic freedoms.

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