US Assumes Guardianship, Imposes New Fee
In a significant geopolitical shift, US President Donald Trump announced on July 13 that the United States military would immediately assume the role of "THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT." This declaration, delivered via his social media platform Truth Social, was accompanied by a mandate to levy a 20% fee on all cargo transiting the volatile maritime chokepoint.
The announcement comes amidst a fresh two-day escalation of military strikes between US and Iranian forces, which have severely jeopardized ongoing regional peace negotiations. The latest flashpoint occurred on July 11, when Iranian forces struck a container ship, triggering a consecutive day of retaliatory military exchanges.
Reinstated "Iranian Blockade"
President Trump justified the new cargo fee as reimbursement for the costs associated with providing safety and security to the Strait. "The USA will be… reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped, for any and all costs necessary to do the job," Trump wrote. Hours before his social media post, Trump hinted at the move during a Fox News interview, stating the US was "taking over" the waterway and would "probably run it."
The newly declared toll coincides with Washington's reinstatement of what Trump termed "the Iranian blockade." This military operation aims to isolate Tehran's shipping access while ensuring the passage remains open to global commerce. "The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran. We are reinstating the IRANIAN BLOCKADE, so named because it is only stopping Iran's ships or customers from entering or leaving," Trump asserted, adding that "All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait."
Iran Rejects US Interference
Tehran swiftly rejected the US's unilateral move. A spokesman for Iran's Khatam Al-Anbiya military command issued a video message declaring that Iran "under no circumstances will allow the United States to interfere in the management" of the waterway. The command further warned neighboring Gulf countries that any cooperation with American forces regarding the strait would be treated as "an act of war."
Escalating Tensions at Critical Chokepoint
The geopolitical standoff intensified on the ground, with Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) posting on X that it considered the strait closed. The PGSA cited "hostile actions by US forces" as rendering passage "currently unfeasible."
The current dispute traces its roots back to February 28, when US and Israeli strikes resulted in the death of Iran's then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, prompting Iran to block the maritime corridor. While an interim peace deal reached last month technically permitted Iran to manage traffic and potentially levy its own fees, Trump suggested last week that those negotiations were "over." Despite this, international mediators from Pakistan, Qatar, and Egypt are continuing efforts to salvage a final agreement, though the two nations are only midway through their designated 60-day negotiation window.
Global Economic Impact
The Strait of Hormuz remains the world's primary energy bottleneck, historically carrying roughly one-fifth of the global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply. While the US military has actively explored alternative global routes to bypass the passage entirely, maritime nations face an immediate disruption to commercial shipping economics under the proposed 20% security tariff.