The geopolitical landscape of the Middle East has taken a dramatic turn as President Donald Trump announced the reinstatement of a naval blockade on Iranian ports and the introduction of new tolls for commercial ships traversing the Strait of Hormuz. This move marks a significant shift in US policy and has drawn mixed reactions from international allies and organizations.
The decision, announced on Monday, comes amidst escalating tensions between the US and Iran, with both nations exchanging tit-for-tat strikes in recent days. The blockade, set to resume at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, effectively nullifies the preliminary peace deal signed just 26 days ago at the Palace of Versailles.
The Guardian of the Hormuz Strait
In a series of posts on his social media platform, Trump declared the US as “THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT” stating that other countries would have fair and open use of the strait. However, the US would impose a 20% toll on the cost of cargo shipped through the strategic waterway in exchange for providing safe passage.
“We guarded the strait for 50 years and never got paid for it,” Trump said in an interview on Fox News. “We want to be reimbursed for this — for putting our people in danger.”
The announcement caught many members of the Trump administration, foreign governments, and international organizations by surprise. The U.S. Central Command noted that additional information would be provided to commercial mariners through a formal notice, but specifics on how and when the fees would be collected remain unclear.
International Reactions and Legal Concerns
Secretary of State Marco Rubio one of Trump’s closest advisers, has been vocal against imposing a toll on the waterway, stating it would constitute a clear violation of international law. “There isn’t a nation on earth that supports having to pay money to go through the straits,” Rubio said during a visit to Bahrain in late June.
The International Maritime Agency (IMO) the United Nations agency responsible for regulating maritime shipping, expressed awareness of Trump’s post and awaited more details. However, they emphasized that there is no legal basis for introducing mandatory tolls simply to transit through a strait.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded to Trump’s announcement by acknowledging the need for compensation but proposed a more reasonable rate. “POTUS is absolutely right. Whoever provides secure and safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz should be compensated for this service. Iran has always been the GUARDIAN of the Strait and will remain so FOREVER,” Araghchi said. “20% is of course too much. We will be fair.”
Escalating Tensions and Military Strikes
The US military carried out more strikes on Iran on Monday, hours after Trump’s announcement. The strikes, directed by the Commander in Chief, aimed to impose a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump stated that the US would not allow Iranian ships to move through the Strait of Hormuz, reinstating what he termed “THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE.” The blockade would allow other countries to move through the waterway but impose a 20% toll on cargo as reimbursement for the US providing safety and security.
The latest round of attacks began on Saturday when Iran fired at a commercial ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz and claimed to close the vital waterway completely. The US retaliated, striking multiple sites in Iran overnight. Iran responded with strikes in Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman, prompting another round of US strikes on Iran.
The escalating tensions have caused disruptions to trade and energy supplies, pushing up fuel prices. The international benchmark for oil climbed further after Trump announced the renewed naval blockade, with Brent crude futures above $83 a barrel by Monday evening.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the escalation, warning that a return to full-scale hostilities would have catastrophic consequences.
