Trump Reimposes 'Iran Blockade', Proposes 20% Security Tariff on Hormuz Strait Cargo

United States President Donald Trump announced on Monday that his administration is reimposing a policy he termed the ‘Iran Blockade’ and proposed charging a 20 per cent fee on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz in return for US protection of the strategic waterway. “The Strait of Hormuz is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “We are reimposing the IRAN BLOCKADE, so named because it only stops Iranian ships or customers from entering or exiting. All other nations will have fair and open use of the Strait.” Trump stated the US would provide security guarantees in the waterway and levy a charge on cargo operators. “From now on, the US will be known as the ‘GUARDIAN OF THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ,’ however, in the interest of FAIRNESS, it will be reimbursed 20% of all cargo shipped, for all costs necessary in carrying out the duty of providing safety and security in this highly volatile region,” Trump said, adding that implementation would begin immediately. Shortly after Trump’s announcement, US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on its X account that its forces would resume the blockade of maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports on Tuesday starting at 4 p.m. local time. CENTCOM explained that US forces would enforce a blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas while continuing to support the flow of traffic through regional waters for ships not violating the blockade. “The reactivation of the US blockade against Iran follows the initial implementation from 13 April to 18 June,” the statement said. It added that US forces diverted over 140 compliant vessels, disabled nine non-compliant ships, and permitted more than 50 commercial vessels carrying humanitarian aid to pass through the area. The blockade had previously been lifted after Pakistan mediated a US-Iran memorandum of understanding in June 2026, which was to be followed by a final agreement after at least 60 days of negotiations, including on Tehran’s nuclear programme. CENTCOM also urged mariners operating in the Gulf of Oman and approaches to the Strait of Hormuz to monitor navigational notices and contact US Navy forces via bridge-to-bridge communication on VHF channel 16.