WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump has announced the reimposition of a naval blockade on Iranian ports and declared that the United States will charge a 20% fee on all cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz, dramatically escalating tensions in one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the United States would assume the role of “Guardian of the Hormuz Strait”, arguing that vessels using the route should contribute to the cost of maintaining security.
“The United States will be known as the Guardian of the Hormuz Strait and will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped, for any and all costs necessary to provide safety and security in this very volatile section of the world,” Trump wrote.
He added that while Iranian ports would again face a US naval blockade, commercial shipping from other countries would continue to have access to the strait.
Trump’s announcement came as fighting between the United States and Iran intensified following the collapse of a ceasefire reached earlier this year.
The US military said it struck dozens of Iranian targets on Monday, including, for the first time, using unmanned surface vessels (maritime drones) to attack an Iranian submarine and facilities at the Bandar Abbas naval base.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced retaliatory strikes against targets in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Oman, marking one of the largest exchanges of attacks since the April ceasefire.
Tehran rejects US role in Hormuz
Iran strongly rejected Trump’s announcement, insisting the United States has no authority over the Strait of Hormuz.
A spokesman for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said Tehran would “under no circumstances” allow Washington to interfere in managing the strategic waterway.
Mohammad Mokhber, an adviser to Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, also vowed Iran would continue defending the strait.
“We defend it so that our ships will never be forced to pay tribute to the enemy,” he said.
Iranian state media also reported that Revolutionary Guard naval forces fired warning shots at two vessels attempting to transit the strait without authorisation.
Diplomatic efforts continue
Despite the renewed military confrontation, diplomatic efforts remain underway.
Iran said it continues to hold talks through mediators including Qatar, Oman and Pakistan, although Tehran described the framework agreement reached in June as being “in crisis.”
Trump, meanwhile, accused Iran of violating the ceasefire agreement.
“It was a done deal and then they broke it,” the US president said. “We’re going to hit them very hard.”
Europe condemns regional attacks
The foreign ministers of Germany, France and the United Kingdom jointly condemned Iran’s attacks on Gulf states and commercial shipping, calling for restraint and renewed diplomatic efforts.
The UK also announced plans to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a national security threat, potentially exposing its supporters to criminal penalties.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, carrying a significant share of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports. Any prolonged disruption could have major consequences for international energy markets and global trade.