Trump said the US would become the "guardian" of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump announced that the United States will reinstate a naval blockade against Iran, take control of security in the Strait of Hormuz, and impose a 20 percent toll on cargo transported through the strait. Iran categorically rejected this plan, stating that it will not allow US interference in the management of the strait.

 

According to Al Jazeera, Trump made this announcement in an interview with Fox News and on his Truth Social social media page. He stated that the US will reinstate the naval blockade against Iran and will henceforth act as the "guardian" of the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, a 20 percent fee is planned to be collected from all cargo transported through the strait to cover the costs of ensuring security.

 

The UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO) opposed the introduction of tolls for passage through straits used for international navigation. The organization stated that there is no international legal basis for imposing such mandatory fees.

 

The latest statements came at a time when tensions between the US and Iran have escalated again. The parties have announced that they have delivered new strikes against each other. Iran reported that it attacked US military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan, while US forces announced that they were striking port cities on the Iranian coast.

 

Iran once again rejected the US plan to establish control over the Strait of Hormuz. 

 

The country's Armed Forces Central Command stated that such an action by Washington would be regarded as an aggression against Iran's sovereignty and would be met with a firm response.

 

Experts note that against the backdrop of the recent tensions, the number of commercial vessels moving through the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 20 percent of the world's oil and gas exports pass, has significantly decreased.