U.S. Reinstates Naval Blockade in Strait of Hormuz Amid Escalating Tensions with Iran

Former President Donald Trump announced on Monday via his Truth Social platform that the Strait of Hormuz “will remain open, with or without Iran,” asserting U.S. control over the critical waterway. He declared the U.S. will henceforth be recognized as “the guardian of the Hormuz Strait,” demanding a 20% fee on all cargo shipments to cover costs associated with maintaining safety and security in the region.

The formal process for enforcing this role, Trump stated, would commence immediately. His remarks followed comments to Fox News where he claimed Iran had “broken” an agreement with the U.S., stating, “We are taking over the strait.”

According to a U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) statement released Monday, American forces will resume blockading maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports starting July 14. The military emphasized ongoing support for “traffic flow through regional waters for all vessels not violating the blockade.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded on X, stating, “POTUS is absolutely right. Whoever provides secure and safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz should be compensated for this service.” However, he contested the 20% figure, calling it excessive while affirming Iran’s enduring role as guardian of the strait.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) rejected the proposal, with a spokesperson telling Reuters, “IMO stands firmly against charging fees for passage through straits used for international navigation.” They added that no legal framework exists for imposing mandatory tolls on international strait transit.

Iran’s military leadership previously warned that U.S. interference in the strait would be treated as an act of war. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Khatam al-Anbiya, cited “repeated adventurism and malicious actions” by the U.S., which he said have “seriously endangered regional security, international trade, and the passage of oil tankers and commercial vessels.” He cautioned that escalation could ignite “flames of war” across the region.

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