US President Donald Trump has announced the reinstatement of a naval blockade targeting Iranian ports and vessels, while proposing a 20% charge on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said the strategic waterway would remain open to international commercial shipping “with or without Iran,” describing the United States as the guardian of the vital maritime route.
According to the US President, the proposed 20% fee would help cover the costs of protecting ships and cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz. However, no details have been provided on how the charge would be collected or enforced.
The announcement comes amid renewed military exchanges between the United States and Iran, following Tehran’s declaration that the Strait of Hormuz had been closed to unauthorised vessels.
Washington says the renewed naval blockade is aimed at Iranian shipping and vessels conducting business with Iran, while allowing other international commercial traffic to continue using the waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important oil and gas transit routes. Concerns over potential disruptions to shipping have driven oil prices higher and intensified fears of increased global inflation.
Despite the announcement, the legal basis and practical mechanism for imposing a 20% transit charge on international cargo remain unclear, with no official implementation framework yet made public.
